WO2005041597A1

WO2005041597A1 - System and method for supplying information using telephone call

Info

Publication number: WO2005041597A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/002750
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mi Jeong Choi; Hwa Seop Lee
Original assignee: Nhn Corporation
Priority date: 2003-10-29
Filing date: 2004-10-29
Publication date: 2005-05-06
Also published as: KR100440989B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing information using a telephone call with experts, which enables a questioner to obtain an answer through real-time voice communications with an answerer who can give an appropriate answer to a question, by selecting the answerer among experts elected by a predetermined expert electing method and making a telephone call between the questioner and the answerer. The present invention provides an information providing system, comprising an expert database for maintaining expert information by categories, with respect to experts elected by categories via a predetermined expert electing system; an answerer selecting system for selecting an answerer from the elected experts; a call connecting system for controlling a call to be established between a questioner’s terminal and the answerer’s terminal; an evaluation system for receiving evaluation data from the questioner who has listened to the answerer’s answer in voice through the established call, and reflecting the received evaluation data in the expert information; and a billing system for charging the questioner and paying the answerer according to a predetermined billing method, in case that the call establishment is closed. According to the present invention, there is an effect that there is provided a system and method for providing information which enables a questioner to obtain a voice answer form an answerer in real time, in which the answer has an objectively verified ability in giving an appropriate answer.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING INFORMATION USING TELEPHONE CALL

Technical Field The present invention relates to a system and method for providing information using a telephone call with experts, which enables a questioner to obtain an answer through real-time voice communications with an answerer who can give an appropriate answer to a question, by selecting the answerer among experts elected by a predetermined expert electing method and making a telephone call between the questioner and the answerer.

Background Art FIG. la is a block diagram illustrating a question-answer service system 110 according to the prior art. The question-answer service system 110 comprises a knowledge sharing system 111 and a knowledge database 112. According to the prior art, a user (a questioner, a knowledge demander) having a certain question accesses to the knowledge sharing system 111 via the Internet by using one's own terminal 110a. The user inputs a keyword related to one's question, and searches the knowledge database 112, thereby checking whether or not a question similar to one's question or an answer related thereto is already registered in the knowledge database 112. In case that the user cannot obtain an appropriate answer with respect to one's question through searching, the user registers one's question in the knowledge sharing system 111. Also, the user can directly register one's question in the knowledge sharing system 111 without searching like above. In the meantime, another user (an answerer, a knowledge provider) accesses to the knowledge sharing system 111 via the Internet by using one's own terminal 110b. The user searches or browses the registered questions using the knowledge sharing system 111. In case that there is a question that the user can answer oneself, the user registers an answer thereto in the knowledge sharing system 111. When the questioner re-accesses to the knowledge sharing system 111 to search one's question afterward, the questioner can see the answer. However, according to the prior art, there is a problem that the questioner cannot obtain an answer to one's question in real time. Namely, since the questioner has to wait for another user to register an appropriate answer to the question, there is a problem that a questioner who wants to obtain an answer to the question quickly cannot use a question-answer service according to the prior art. Therefore, there has been desired a method which can provide "an appropriate answer" to a questioner's question "in real time". Accordingly, another prior art provides a system enabling a real-time answer to a questioner's question. FIG. lb is a block diagram illustrating a real-time counseling service system 120 according to another prior art. The real-time counseling service system 120 comprises a call server 121, a counselor database 122 and a client database 123. The counselor database 122 stores a counselor's telephone number information, specialized field information and the like. The client database 123 stores a user's telephone number information and the like. In case that a client 120a wants to ask a telephone call with a counselor who specializes in a predetermined field, the call server 121 establishes a call between the client 120a and a counselor 120b by searching the counselor database 122 for the counselor 120b's telephone number information corresponding to the specialized filed and searching the client database 123 for the client 120a's. In case that a call is established like above, the client 120a can be provided with a necessary answer through a telephone call with the counselor 120b. Like above, in case of using the real-time counseling service system 120 enabling question-answer through a telephone call, there is an advantage that the client can consult a counselor who specializes in a predetermined field, "in real time". However, the real-time counseling service system according to the prior art does not suggest a concrete method for electing a counselor, i.e. an expert in the predetermined field. Namely, the prior art selects the counselor as an expert in a field, based on the counselor's age, occupation, work place, educational background, work experience, certificate and the like. However, the data does not objectively show the counselor's ability in giving an answer (the ability, on which the counselor is evaluated how appropriately the counselor can gives an answer to a question with respect to a predetermined field). Accordingly, according to the prior art, counselors having equal educational background and work experience are regarded as same levels. However, although counselors have equal educational background or work experience, in many cases, they have different competence in explaining a question or their intelligent abilities are different. However, in case that counselors have equal educational background or work experience, the conventional real-time counseling service considers a counselor who provides a different level of answer, as same level with other counselors and provides a service. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in aspect that although the questioner wants to consult a competent answerer, the questioner is uncertain with whom the questioner gets through and although the answerer has different ability in giving an answer, the answerer gets paid as same with other counselors. Like above, there is a problem that the conventional question-answer service system cannot provide a questioner with an appropriate answer in real time, and although a real-time counseling service method provides a questioner with an answer in real time, it does not guarantee whether the answer to the question is appropriate. Accordingly, it is required a real-time information providing system which not only provides a questioner with an answer in real time, but also guarantees level of the answer, and further gives a differentiated payment to the answerer according to level thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. la is a block diagram illustrating a question-answer service system according to the prior art. FIG. lb is a block diagram illustrating a real-time counseling service system according to another prior art. FIG. 2a is a drawing illustrating a network of an information providing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2b is a block diagram illustrating an information providing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an expert electing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating one example of expert information stored in an expert database, in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG 5 is a block diagram illustrating an answerer selecting system, in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6a is a view illustrating one example of category lists displayed on a predetermined web page via a directory searching method, in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6b is a view illustrating one example of a web page displaying information with respect to an expert selected by a questioner, in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating one example of expert information searched by a search module comprised in an answerer selecting system, in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating configuration, performed in a call connecting system, in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an information providing method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Disclosure of the Invention Technical Question The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide an information providing system and method, enabling a questioner to obtain a voice answer from an answerer in real time. Especially, an object of the present invention is to provide an information providing system and method, enabling a questioner to obtain a voice answer from an answerer who can give the most appropriate answer, by selecting the answerer among experts elected by an expert electing method, wherein the expert electing system can objectively evaluate each expert's ability in giving an answer. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to induce an answerer to give an answer faithfully, by receiving evaluation data with respect to an answerer's answer from a questioner and paying the answerer differently according to the evaluation data. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information providing system and method, enabling a questioner to obtain an answer from a new answerer without repeating the preceded procedures, even in case that a selected answerer cannot give an answer to a questioner's question,

Technical Solution In order to achieve the objects and solve the problems in the prior art, the present invention provides an information providing system, comprising an expert database for maintaining expert information by categories, with respect to experts elected by categories via a predetermined expert electing system; an answerer selecting system for selecting an answerer from the elected experts; a call connecting system for controlling a call to be established between a questioner's terminal and the answerer's terminal; an evaluation system for receiving evaluation data from the questioner who has listened to the answerer's answer in voice through the established call, and reflecting the received evaluation data in the expert information; and a billing system for charging the questioner and paying the answerer according to a predetermined billing method, in case that the call establishment is closed. According to one aspect of the present invention, the expert information further comprises a first expert point by categories, and the expert electing system comprises a first input module for receiving a question, a category related thereto and adoption of an answer from a first user, and receiving an answer to the question from a second user; a first display module for providing the question and the answer on a predetermined web page; a first control module for increasing the number of answers that are related to the second user and correspond to the category, in response to the received answer, in case that adoption of the answer is input from the first user, increasing the number of adopted answers that are related to the second user and correspond to the category, updating a first expert point related to the category by using said number of answers and said number of adopted answers, and in case that the first expert point is over a predetermined value, electing the second user as an expert in a field corresponding to the category; and a first record module for recording the first expert point in the expert database by categories, in association with the elected expert. Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, the expert information further comprises a second expert point, and the evaluation system comprises a message transmitting module for transmitting short messages including a callback URL to the questioner's mobile communication terminal using a SMS server; a evaluation data receiving module for receiving evaluation data from the questioner by using the callback URL; and a second control module for updating the second expert point, based on the evaluation data. Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, the answerer selecting system comprises a second input module for receiving selection of category from the questioner; a search module for searching the expert database for expert information related to the selected category; and an answerer selecting module for selecting an answerer, based on the second expert point comprised in the searched expert information. Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, the expert information further comprises call information on whether the expert is available for a call. And the answerer selecting system comprises a search module for receiving selection of category from the questioner and searching for expert information related to the selected category; and an answerer selecting module for selecting an available expert as an answerer, based on information comprised in the searched expert information. Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, in case that a signal that the answerer is unable to give an answer to the questioner's question is input from the selected answerer, the answerer selecting system selects a new answerer from the elected experts, except the selected answerer. And the call connecting system controls a call to be established between the new answerer and the questioner. Furthermore, the present invention provides a system and method for providing information using a telephone call, comprising the steps of electing experts by categories according to a predetermined expert electing method; storing expert information related to the experts by categories in a predetermined database; determining a category related to a questioner's question; searching the expert database for expert information corresponding to the determined category; selecting an expert related to the searched expert information as an answerer, based on the expert information; controlling a call to be established between the questioner's terminal and the answerer's terminal; receiving evaluation data with respect to the answerer's answer from the questioner; and updating expert information related to the answerer, based on the evaluation data. Furthermore, the present invention provides a computer readable record medium recording a program for implementing the method for providing information.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Hereinafter, the present invention will be in detail described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2a is a drawing illustrating a network of an information providing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2b is a block diagram illustrating the information providing system. As illustrated in FIG. 2a, an information providing system 200 enables a real-time question and answer between a questioner and an answerer through a call, by controlling the call to be established between the questioner's terminal 201 and terminal 202 of the answerer selected according to a predetermined criterion. The information providing system 200 comprises an expert database 210, an answerer selecting system 220, a call connecting system 230, an evaluation system 240 and a billing system 250. The expert database 210 maintains expert information by categories, in association with an expert elected by categories according to a predetermined expert electing system. The expert information includes at least one selected from a group consisting of an expert identifier, a first expert point and a second expert point by categories, a total expert point, ranking thereof by categories, link information related to the expert's question and answer, personal information including a telephone number or account number, call information on availability of a call, and payments paid to the expert. The expert information will be in detail described later. The answerer selecting system 220 selects an answerer from experts elected by an expert electing system. The call connecting system 230 enables a telephone call by establishing a call between a terminal of a questioner who wants to obtain a predetermined answer and the answerer's terminal. The questioner and the answerer can ask a question or give an answer by using a voice in real time, through the established call. Therefore, the questioner can obtain an answer to one's question in real time, which is different from a question-answer service performed on the Internet. The expert electing system will be in detail described with reference to FIG. 3. An expert electing system 300 comprises a first input module 301, a first display module 302, a control module 303 and a first record module 304. The first input module 301 receives a question and a category related thereto from a first user, through a wired/wireless communication network. The category can be input by providing predetermined lists of categories to the first user, thereby getting the first user select the category oneself. In addition, the first input module 301 may receive selection of category by maintaining predetermined categories and keywords corresponding thereto, abstracting a predetermined keyword from the question using a predetermined analysis method such as a morpheme analyzing method, and searching for a category corresponding to the abstracted keyword. The first display module 302 enables users who access to the expert electing system 300 to read the question by providing the same on a predetermined web page. A second user who is provided with the question on the web page, inputs an answer thereto and the first input module 301 receives the answer from the second user. The first display module 302 provides the input answer on the web page. In case that the answer is input, the control module 303 increases the number of answers that correspond to the second user and are related to the category. In addition, in case that a signal that the user wants to adopt the answer is input from the first user, the first input module 301 increases the number of adopted answers that correspond to the second user and are related to the category. The number of answers related to a category and the number of adopted answers becomes data for computing (or updating) the first expert point that corresponds to the second user and is related to the category, which will be described later. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first input module 301 more receives evaluation data with respect to the answer from a third user, besides the first user and the second user. The control module 303 may use the evaluation data as another data for computing (or updating) the first expert point. FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating one example of point information stored in the expert database 210, in association with the expert electing system 300. As illustrated, the expert database 210 stores a user identifier for identifying a second user, a category corresponding to the second user, the number of answers related thereto, the number of adopted answers, an answer adopting rate computed on the basis of said number of answers and said number of adopted answers, evaluation data, a first expert point, a second expert point, and a total expert point. In addition, the expert database 210 may further store ranking of the first expert point, that of the second expert point, or that of the total expert point, according to embodiments. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a second user, 'abcl23', has given 10 answers to questions corresponding to the category of 'natural science', of which 7 answers have been adopted by a first user, a questioner. Since the number of adopted answers is the number that answers input by the second user are adopted by the first user, it can be used as data for computing the first expert point, in aspect that the answers have enough level to be adopted by the first user, the questioner. Moreover, since it is possible to determine the extent of the second user's participation on the basis of the number of answers, the number of answers also can be used as data for computing the first expert point, in order to elect a sincere answerer as an expert. Furthermore, the answer adopting rate is easily computed from the formula, (number of answers) / (number of adopted answers). In case that the second user has input a plurality of answers, quality thereof may be poor. Therefore, it is preferable to reflect the answer adopting rate in order to select an expert in a field corresponding to the category objectively. Furthermore, a third user who has read the question and answers provided on the web page via the first display module 302, inputs evaluation data. The evaluation data also can be used as data for computing (or updating) the first expert point. Accordingly, since possibility becomes high that the second user, of whom answers are well-evaluated by the third user, is elected as an expert in a field, it is possible to elect the expert in a filed corresponding to the category objectively. For example, the input module 301 may provide an interface for inputting +1 on the web page, in case that the answer is appropriate in the third user' opinion and inputting -1 in case that the answer is inappropriate in the third user's opinion. In addition, the evaluation data is preferred to be input only by the third user, except the firs user and the second user. The control module 303 computes the first expert point on the basis of the data (at this time, it is preferable to compute the first expert point by giving weight to each data based on importance thereof.) For example, the first expert point with respect to category 'natural science' can be computed by the following formula: the number of answers (10) x 1 + the number of adopted answers (7) x 1 + answer adopting rate (0.7) x 20 + evaluation data (5) x 2 = 41. The control module 303 updates the first expert point per every change in data such as the number of answers or the number of adopted answers, and the first record module 304 records the first expert point in the expert database 210 by categories. The control module 303 determines whether or not the second user 'abcl23' is an expert in the field of 'natural science', based on the first expert point. For example, in case that the first expert point related to category of 'natural science' is over 100, the control module 303 elects the second user 'abcl23' as an expert in the field of 'natural science'. Referring to FIG. 4, the second user 'abcl23' is a non-expert in the field of 'natural science' and an expert in a field of 'computer'. In the meantime, the second expert point and the total expert point stored in the expert database 210 will be described later. Hereinafter, the answerer selecting system 220 will be in detail described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an answerer selecting system 520 corresponding to the answerer selecting system 220. The answerer selecting system 520 comprises a second input module 521, a search module 522, a second display module 523 and an answerer selecting module 524. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second input module 521 receives selection of a category from the questioner. For example, the questioner can input selection of the category by using a predetermined automatic response system 529. The questioner is connected to the automatic response system 529 by dialing a main telephone number well-known through a predetermined web page, newspaper, TV commercial and the like. For example, the automatic response system 529 provides the questioner with a voice message, such as "press number 1 for field of 'computer' and press number 2 for field of 'natural science'". At this time, in case that the questioner presses number 1 through one's terminal such as a telephone or the like, the automatic response system 529 transmits a signal (an input signal for selecting category of 'computer') corresponding to the number 1, to the second input module 521. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the second input module 521 receives selection of a category from the questioner through a predetermined web page. For example, the answerer selecting system 220 may provide an user interface which enables the questioner to select a category, by maintaining categories and keywords corresponding thereto in a predetermined category database, in case that the questioner inputs a predetermined keyword, providing lists of categories corresponding thereto on the web page, and enabling the questioner to select a category from the provided lists of categories. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the answerer selecting system 220 enables the questioner to input selection of a category by providing lists of categories on a predetermined web page via a directory searching method. FIG. 6a is a view illustrating one example of lists of categories displayed on the web page via the directory searching method. As indicated by drawing symbols 601, FIG. 6a illustrates an example in which the category of 'computer, communication>hardware' is selected through the directory searching method. In case that the questioner inputs selection of a 'computer' category according to one method among the aforementioned various methods of selecting a category, the search module 522 searches the expert database 210 for the first expert point related to the selected 'computer' category. Accordingly, expert information is searched, in association with experts in a field of 'computer including the second user 'abcl23'. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the answerer selecting module 524 selects an answerer, based on the first expert point which is included in the searched expert information. For example, the answerer selecting module 524 selects an expert who has the highest point in the first expert point, as an answerer. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, in case that three pieces of expert information is searched in association with a field of 'computer', the answerer selecting module 524 selects an expert, 'kome' whose first expert point is the highest among available experts, as an answerer. As described later, call information is further comprised in expert information, and in case that the call information is used for selecting the answerer, the answerer selecting module 524 selects the answerer among available experts, based on the call information. Namely, the answerer selecting module 524 selects 'yukie' whose first expert point is highest between 'naoe' and 'yukie', experts who are 'available' for a call, instead of 'kome' who is in a 'unavailable' state of making a phone call. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the answerer selecting module 524 may receive direct selection of an expert from the questioner and select the expert selected thereby as an answerer. As indicated by drawing symbols 402, the answerer selecting system 220 displays expert identifiers related to each category on the web page. At this time, it is preferable to display the expert identifiers in order of the first expert point. In addition, in case that an answerer is selected by further considering the second expert point as described later, it is preferable to display the expert identifiers in order of the total expert point. In case that the questioner selects a predetermined expert by selecting one expert identifier from lists of the expert identifiers, the answerer selecting system 220 provides expert information related to the selected expert on the web page, as illustrated in FIG. 6b. For example, the answerer selecting system 220 can provide an expert point (the expert point may be selected by any one of the first expert point, the second expert point, and the total expert point) in association with a category elected as an expert and ranking thereof on the web page, as indicated by drawing symbols 603. The questioner selects an expert, who is considered to give an appropriate answer on the basis of the expert information displayed on the web page, as an answerer. In case that the selection is input, the answerer selecting system 524 selects the expert as the answerer. The call connecting system 230 controls a call to be established between a terminal of the answerer selected as above and the questioner's. Thus, the questioner and the answer can ask a question and give an answer in real time by using a voice, through the established call. The questioner inputs evaluation data with respect to the answerer, in the evaluation system 240 after reading the answer, and the evaluation system 240 reflects the evaluation data on the expert information. According to one embodiment of the present invention, even in case that a call between the questioner's terminal and the answerer's is closed, the evaluation system ■ 240 maintains a call with the questioner's terminal and transmits a voice message, such as "press number 1 if satisfied and press number 2 if unsatisfied", to the questioner by using a predetermined automatic response system. The evaluation system 240 reflects the expert information by distinguishing a response between numbers 1 and 2, in response to the voice message. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the evaluation system 240 can receive evaluation data with respect to the answerer's answer from the questioner, via a predetermined web page. The questioner, who has listened to the answerer's answerer over telephone, can input evaluation data with respect to the answer in the evaluation system 240 by accessing to the predetermined web page. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the evaluation system 240 comprises a message transmitting module, an evaluation data receiving module and a second control module. The message transmitting module controls a predetermined SMS server so that short messages including a callback URL or callback number may be transmitted to the questioner's terminal. The short messages include an alphanumerical message such as "please press a send button after pressing number 1 if satisfied and pressing number 2 if unsatisfied". The questioner can input evaluation data by pressing number 1 (or number 2) and a send button after receiving the alphanumerical message. Thus, the terminal transmits the evaluation data to the evaluation data receiving module by using the callback URL or callback number. The second control module updates the expert information through the evaluation data receiving module, based on the evaluation data. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the expert information further comprises the second expert point. The second expert point is data that the evaluation system 240 generates by reflecting the evaluation data. For example, the second control module increases the second expert point by 1 per input of a signal corresponding to number 1 (satisfied) and reduces the same by 1 per input of a signal corresponding to number 2 (unsatisfied). In case that the answerer selecting system 220 selects an answerer from experts related to a predetermined category, the second expert point computed like above may be used as data thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the second expert point is stored in the expert database 210. The answerer selecting system 220 selects an answerer from searched experts in association with the category, by considering both the first and the second expert points. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the answerer selecting system 220 computes the total expert point by giving weight to both the first and the second expert points, and selects an expert whose total expert point is highest, as an answerer. For example, in case of FIG. 4, the total expert point is computed by the following formula: {(first expert point) x 1 + (second expert point) x 2} = total expert point 118 In the meantime, since the second user ' abcl23' has not been elected as an expert in a field of 'natural science' category, the second expert point, which is computed from evaluation data with respect to an answer of the answerer "selected from experts", should be 0. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the expert database 210 further comprises call information on whether the expert is available for a call, as aforementioned. The call information may be information on whether a telephone call is 'available' or 'unavailable' or information on 'call available period'. The answerer selecting module 524 selects an available expert as an answerer, based on the call information. The call information is included in expert information searched by the search module 522. Therefore, the questioner can obtain one's desired answer by giving a telephone call to the answerer directly. According to the present embodiment, the answerer selecting system 220 receives call available time from the second user elected as an expert and updates the call information according to the call available time. In addition, in case that the questioner oneself inputs selection of an answerer among experts related to a predetermined category, based on expert information provided on the web page or the like, the answerer selecting system 220 is preferred to more provide the call information on the web page or the like. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, in case that the answerer selecting system 220 selects an answerer who is determined to be available for a call on the basis of the call information, whereby the call connecting system 230 tries to establish a call with the answerer's terminal, but fails due to no response from the questioner, the evaluation system 240 updates the second expert point related to the answerer. For example, in case that the answerer who is determined to be available for a call on the basis of the call information, does not respond, the second expert point related to the answerer is reduced by 5. Thus, an information providing system according to the present embodiment induces experts elected as answerers to give answers faithfully and to update the call information sincerely. On the contrary, in case that the call is established in such a way that the selected answerer substantially responds to a call connecting request during the call available time, the evaluation system 240 may increase the second expert point related to the answerer, by 1. The second expert point may be used as data for deciding payment with respect to the answerer in the billing system 250, which will be described later. Namely, payment for the answerer is decided by reflecting the questioner's evaluations with respect to the answer. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, there is an advantage that answerers give answers actively and sincerely, in order to enhance quality of payments such as increasing an amount of money. In the meantime, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the call connecting system 230 controls a call establishment with the answerer's terminal, in a state where the answerer's terminal is connected to the questioner's terminal. At this time, the expert information includes the expert's telephone number information and the call connecting system 230 controls a call to be established between the questioner's terminal and the answerer's terminal by using the telephone number information. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the call connecting system 230 establishes a call between the questioner's terminal and the answerer's terminal by using a callback method. According to the present embodiment, each step as illustrated in FIG. 8 is performed in the call connecting system 230. The call connecting system 230 receives a question from the questioner and the questioner's telephone number information in step 801. The call connecting system 230 may receive the question using a voice through the questioner's terminal such as a telephone or a mobile phone, or may receive an alphanumerical message through a predetermined user web page. In addition, even in case that the question is input from a terminal such as a telephone or mobile phone, it is also possible to receive the question alphanumerically by using a SMS. In the meantime, even in case that the question is input in voice, it is preferable to receive the telephone number information alphanumerically. The call connecting system 230 provides the question for the selected answerer in step 802. The character-based question can be provided for the answerer alphanumerically and the voice-based question can be provided for the answerer in voice. In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the question can be provided in voice or alphanumerically according to selection of the answerer who receives the question (or according to a kind of a terminal with which the answerer receives the question). At this time, there should be further comprised a voice recognizing system for changing the recognized voice- based question into characters and a character recognizing system for generating a voice by recognizing characters. In case that the answerer who receives the question can give an answer thereto, the answerer asks the call connecting system 230 of call connection with the questioner in step 803. In case that a request for call connection is received in step 803, the call connecting system 230 controls a call to be established between the questioner's terminal and the answerer's terminal by using the questioner's telephone number information. Like above, since the call connecting system 230 enables the questioner to make a telephone call only with an answerer who is determined to give an answer to the question, the questioner is prevented from repeating the aforementioned procedures for connecting a call with a new answerer in case that it is found that the answerer cannot give an answer thereto after connection of a call. In case that there is no request for connection of a call from the answerer within a certain period or in case that a signal that the answerer is unable to answer, instead of a request for connection of a call, is input form the answerer, the call connecting system 230 is preferred to notify the answerer selecting system 220 so that a new answerer except the answerer may be selected. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, in case that the answerer cannot give an answer to the question after a call is established between the questioner and the answerer, the call connecting system 230 enables a new answerer to be selected and to make a call with the questioner. According to the present embodiment, in case that a signal that the answerer is unable to give an answer to the question is input from the answerer (for example, in case that a signal corresponding to a specified button such as '*' button is input from the answerer's terminal after the call establishment), the call selecting system 220 selects a new answerer from experts searched in association with the category, except the answerer, and controls a call to be established between the new answerer's terminal and the questioner's terminal. Through configuration like above, the questioner can make a call with the new answerer without repeating the aforementioned procedures. At this time, it is preferable that the billing system 250 charges the questioner fees related to the new answerer, without charging fees related to the answerer (i.e., fees from a call establishment with the answerer to that with the new answerer). Furthermore, it is preferable that in case that a signal corresponding to the '*' button is input, the call connecting system 230 transmits voice messaging information (or alphanumerical messaging information) such as 'do you want call to be established with a new answerer' to the questioner's terminal, and only in case that a request for call establishment with a new answerer is input from the questioner, controls a call to be established with the new answerer. The billing system 250 determines fees related to the questioner according to a predetermined fee computing method and determines fees related to the answerer according to a predetermined payment computing method. The fees is computed on the basis of the number of call establishment between the questioner and the answerer, call maintaining time from when the call is established with the answerer to the time when the call is closed, and the answerer's expert point. In addition, the payments can be computed by evaluation data input by the questioner, besides the aforementioned factors. Hereinafter, a method for providing information using a telephone call according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an information providing method according to the present embodiment. Experts are elected by categories according to a predetermined expert electing method, in step 901. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the expert electing method selects experts by interoperating with a question-answer service on the Internet. Namely, the expert electing method can consider a user's achievements (the number of answers, the number of adopted answers, other users' evaluation with respect to the answers, etc) in the question-answer service and elect the user as an expert. Especially, the expert electing method can elect an expert in a subdivided field, by computing the achievements by categories. Expert information related to the expert is stored in a predetermine database means by categories in step 902. A category related to a questioner's question is determined in step 903. At this time, various methods may be adopted, such as a method of deciding a category selected by the questioner through a wired/wireless network, as a category related to the question, a method of deciding a category by abstracting a keyword through morpheme analysis of the question and matching a category related to the keyword, a method of deciding a category by using a directory searching method, etc. In step 904, expert information corresponding to a category decided like above is searched from the database means and an answerer is selected from experts related to the searched expert information, based thereon. In step 905, a call is controlled to be established between the questioner's terminal and the selected answerer's terminal. Therefore, the questioner and the answerer are enabled to ask a question and give an answer in real-time by using a voice. Evaluation data with respect to the answer is input from the questioner who has listened to the answer, in step 906. In a state where the call is established, the evaluation data can be input in voice or alphanumerically through the established call, or can be input through a separate medium such as a predetermined web page. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a short message including a callback URL or callback number is transmitted to the questioner's terminal by using a SMS server and then the evaluation data is input as a response to the short message by using the callback URL or callback number. Expert information related to the answerer is updated, based on the input evaluation data, in step 907. Since the expert information is used as data for determining payments for the answerer in step 908, it is possible to induce an answerer to give an answer faithfully in order to obtain good evaluation. In step 908, fees for the questioner and payments for the answerer are determined. The fees and the payments may be determined as a flat-rate according to the number of call establishment. Or the fees and the payments may be different on the basis of data such as the number of call establishment, time of maintaining the call establishment, expert information related to the answerer, or the like. Furthermore, the present invention provides computer readable record media recording a program for implementing the aforementioned method. 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 skilled in the computer software arts.

Industrial Applicability According to the present invention, there is provided a system and method for providing information, in which a questioner can make a real-time call with an answerer having a verified ability in giving an answer. Especially, the present invention elects an answerer by using particulars thereof such as the number of answers, the number of adopted answers and evaluation data with respect to answers, unlike the prior art that elects an answerer by using indirect data such as a user's work experience or educational background. Therefore, there is an advantage that since the present invention can objectively verify the answerer's ability in giving an answer, the questioner also can ask a question with confidence with respect to the answerer's ability. Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided a system and method for providing information which can give more opportunities to an answerer well-evaluated by questioners, in which a questioner inputs evaluation data with respect to an answerer's answer and the evaluation data is used as data for selecting an answerer. Furthermore, since the evaluation data is used as data for determining payments for the answerer, the present invention provides a system and method for providing information which can induce an answerer to give an answer sincerely. Furthermore, according to the present invention, even in case that a selected answerer cannot give an answer to a questioner's question, there is provided a system and method for providing information which enables the questioner to listen to an answer from a newly elected answerer, without repeating the aforementioned procedures such as decision of a category and the like. Like above, while the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for providing information using a telephone call, the system comprising: an expert database for maintaining expert information by categories, with respect to experts elected by categories via a predetermined expert electing system; an answerer selecting system for selecting an answerer from the elected experts; a call connecting system for controlling a call to be established between a questioner's terminal and the answerer's terminal; an evaluation system for receiving evaluation data from the questioner who has listened to the answerer's answer in voice through the established call, and reflecting the received evaluation data in the expert information; and a billing system for charging the questioner and paying the answerer according to a predetermined billing method, in case that the call establishment is closed.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expert information further comprises a first expert point by categories, and the expert electing system comprises: a first input module for receiving a question, a category related thereto and adoption of an answer from a first user, and receiving an answer to the question from a second user; a first display module for providing the question and the answer on a predetermined web page; a first control module for increasing the number of answers that are related to the second user and correspond to the category, in response to the received answer, in case that adoption of the answer is input from the first user, increasing the number of adopted answers that are related to the second user and correspond to the category, updating a first expert point related to the category by using said number of answers and said number of adopted answers, and in case that the first expert point is over a predetermined value, electing the second user as an expert in a field corresponding to the category; and a first record module for recording the first expert point in the expert database by categories, in association with the elected expert.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first input module further receives evaluation data with respect to the answer from a third user, and the control module updates the first expert point that corresponds to the second user and is related to the category, based on the evaluation data.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the answerer selecting system comprises: a second input module for receiving selection of category from the questioner; a search module for searching the expert database for expert information related to the selected category; and an answerer selecting module for selecting an answerer, based on the first expert point included in the searched expert information.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the expert information further comprises a second expert point, and the evaluation system comprises: a message transmitting module for transmitting a short message including a callback URL or callback number to the questioner's mobile communication terminal using a SMS server; an evaluation data receiving module for receiving evaluation data from the questioner by using the callback URL or callback number; and a second control module for updating the second expert point, based on the evaluation data.

6. . The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the answerer selecting system comprises: a second input module for receiving selection of a category from the questioner; a search module for searching the database for expert information related to the selected category; and an answerer selecting module for selecting an answerer based on the second expert point included in the searched expert information.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the answerer selecting module selects an answerer, based on the first expert point and the second expert point included in the searched expert information.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the answerer selecting module computes an expert point by giving a predetermined weight to the first expert point and the second expert point, and selects the answerer based on the computed expert point.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expert information further includes call information about whether the expert is available for a call, and the answerer selecting module comprises: a second input module for receiving selection of a category from the questioner; a search module for searching for expert information related to the selected category; and an answerer selecting module for selecting an available expert as an answerer, based on call information included in the searched expert information.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the answerer selecting module further comprises: a second input module for receiving call available time from the expert via a wired/wireless communication network; and a third record module for storing the call information by updating the same, based on the call available time.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the expert information includes a second expert point, and in case that call establishment fails due to no response from the answerer selected on the basis of the call information, the evaluation system updates the second expert point.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the answerer selecting system comprises: a second input module for receiving selection of a category from the questioner via a predetermined web page; a search module for searching the expert database for expert information related to the selected category; a second display module for visually providing the questioner with the searched expert information via the web page; and an answerer selecting module for deciding the selected expert as an answerer, in case that selection of an expert is input from the questioner based on the provided expert information.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expert information includes telephone number information related to the expert, and the call connecting system controls the call to be established between the questioner's terminal and the selected answerer's terminal, by using the telephone number information.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the call connecting system performs the steps of: receiving a question from the questioner and the questioner's telephone number information; providing the question for the selected answerer via a wired/wireless communication network; and controlling the call to be established between the answerer's terminal and the questioner's terminal by using the questioner's telephone number information, in case that a call connecting request is input from the answerer.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in case that a signal that the selected answerer is unable to give an answer to the questioner's question is input from the selected answerer, the answerer selecting system selects a new answerer from the elected experts, except the selected answerer, and the call connecting system controls the call to be established between the new answerer and the questioner.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the call connecting system refers to the questioner for call establishment with the new answerer, and in case that a request for call establishment with the new answerer is input from the questioner, controls the call to be established between the new answerer and the questioner.

17. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein in case that a signal that the selected answerer is unable to give an answer to the questioner's question is input from the selected answerer, the billing system discharges the questioner fees related to the answerer.

18. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the billing system determines payments related to the answerer, based on the call established period or the evaluation data.

19. A method for providing information using a telephone call, the method comprising the steps of: electing experts by categories according to a predetermined expert electing method; storing expert information related to the experts by categories in a predetermined database; determining a category related to a questioner's question; searching the expert database for expert information corresponding to the determined category; selecting an expert related to the searched expert information as an answerer, based on the expert information; controlling a call to be established between the questioner's terminal and the answerer's terminal; receiving evaluation data with respect to the answerer's answer from the questioner; and updating expert information related to the answerer, based on the evaluation data.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising the step of deciding fees for the questioner and payments for the answerer.

21. A computer readable record medium recording a program for implementing any one method between claims 19 and 20.