Method for providing questions and answers, computer equipment, and computer program

Abstract

This invention provides a method, computer device, and computer program for providing question-and-answer services in conjunction with an external question-and-answer platform via a chat room. [Solution] The question and answer provision method includes the steps of: displaying a query entered by a user via a chat room with a bot linked to an external question and answer platform; displaying the answer to the query as a first type message in the chat room; and displaying the source of the answer as a second type message in the chat room.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following description relates to a technology for providing a question-and-answer service.

Background Art

[0002] Social media such as Social Network Service (SNS) and messenger are general terms for services that aim at relationships between people, form relationships between users, and support interactions through posts.

[0003] Social media provides users with information through different contexts. For example, social media provides not only update information regarding relationships between users, post update information, content recommendations, but also various other information items.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 described later discloses a technology for managing posts using SNS.

[0005] With the spread of social media, as the functions provided through the platform become increasingly diversified, platform services that allow users to post, view, and share videos are being provided.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] A question-and-answer service can be provided in conjunction with an external question-and-answer platform via a chat room.

[0008] It is possible to provide answers to user queries entered via the chat room, based on posts from an external Q&A platform.

[0009] User queries entered via the chat room can be posted as query posts on an external Q&A platform.

[0010] If an answer to a user query is registered on an external Q&A platform, it can be provided to the user via a chat room.

[0011] Query posts registered by other users on external Q&A platforms can be recommended to users via chat rooms. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] A method for providing question and answer services for a computer device including at least one processor, comprising the steps of: displaying a query entered by a user via a chat room with a bot that is linked to an external question and answer platform using at least one processor; displaying an answer to the query as a first type message in the chat room using at least one processor; and displaying the source of the answer as a second type message in the chat room using at least one processor.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the step of displaying as a first type message may involve displaying as a first type message an answer generated based on at least one post related to the query among the question-and-answer posts registered on an external question-and-answer platform.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the step of displaying a second type of message may include displaying a second type of message that includes a link to the external Q&A platform of the post from which the answer originates.

[0015] In another embodiment, the question-and-answer provision method may include the step of displaying an answer error message as a third type of message in the chat room if the minimum number of posts required to generate an answer is not met by at least one processor.

[0016] In another embodiment, the question-and-answer provision method may include the step of displaying a question correction request message as a fourth type message in the chat room using at least one processor if the question contains an error.

[0017] In other embodiments, the question-and-answer provision method may include a step of requesting an external question-and-answer platform to register a query, in accordance with a user request, using at least one processor.

[0018] In other embodiments, the question-and-answer provision method may include, using at least one processor, a step of checking whether a user account is linked between an external question-and-answer platform and a messenger in response to a query registration request, and, if a user account is not linked between the external question-and-answer platform and the messenger, a step of using at least one processor to display an account linking screen for linking a user account between the external question-and-answer platform and the messenger.

[0019] In another embodiment, the step of requesting registration includes displaying a query registration guidance message for the query as a fifth type message in the chat room, the fifth type message may include a UI for requesting registration of the query as a post on an external question-and-answer platform.

[0020] In yet another embodiment, the question-and-answer provision method may include the step of receiving registered answers to queries from an external question-and-answer platform using at least one processor, and displaying the received answers as a sixth type of message in the chat room.

[0021] A method for providing question and answer services for a computer device including at least one processor, comprising the steps of: using at least one processor to display at least one recommended query from among the queries registered on an external question and answer platform via a chat room with a bot that is linked to an external question and answer platform; and using at least one processor to receive input of a user response to the recommended query via the chat room and request the external question and answer platform to register the user response.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the step of displaying at least one recommended query may include the step of selecting a recommended query from queries registered on an external question-and-answer platform based on user intent or user history related to question-and-answer.

[0023] This invention provides a computer program, recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for causing a computer device to execute a question-and-answer session. It also provides a computer program for causing a computer device to execute a question-and-answer session.

[0024] The present invention provides a computer device comprising at least one processor configured to execute instructions readable by the computer device, wherein at least one processor processes: a process of displaying queries entered by a user via a chat room with a bot that interacts with an external question-answering platform; a process of displaying answers to the queries as a first type of message in the chat room; and a process of displaying the source of the answers as a second type of message in the chat room.

[0025] A computer device including at least one processor configured to execute instructions readable by the computer device, wherein the at least one processor processes a process of displaying at least one recommended query among queries registered in an external question-and-answer platform via a chat room with a bot that cooperates with the external question-and-answer platform, and a process of receiving an input of a user answer to the recommended query via the chat room and requesting registration of the user answer to the external question-and-answer platform.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example of a network environment in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A block diagram showing an example of a computer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] A flowchart showing an example of a method executable by a computer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] A diagram showing an example of a question-and-answer process using a question bot in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] A diagram showing an example of a question-and-answer process using a question bot in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] A diagram showing an example of a question-and-answer process using a question bot in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] A diagram showing an example of a question-and-answer process using a question bot in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] A diagram showing an example of a question-and-answer process using a question bot in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] A diagram showing an example of a question-and-answer process using a question bot in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] A diagram showing an example of a question-and-answer process using a question bot in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This flowchart shows another example of a method that a computer device according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform. [Figure 12] This figure shows an example of a question-and-answer process using a response bot in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] This figure shows an example of a question-and-answer process using a response bot in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] This figure shows an example of a question-and-answer process using a response bot in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] This figure shows an example of a question-and-answer process using a response bot in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] This figure shows an example of an access route to the question and answer details screen in one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a technology for providing a question-and-answer service.

[0029] Embodiments including those specifically disclosed herein can provide a question-and-answer service via a chat room with a bot that is linked to an external question-and-answer platform.

[0030] An example of the present invention may be implemented by at least one computer device, and an example of the present invention may be executed by at least one computer device included in the question and answer providing device. In this case, a computer program according to one embodiment of the present invention may be installed and executed in the computer device, and the computer device may execute the question and answer providing method according to the present invention in accordance with the control of the executed computer program. The above-described computer program may be combined with the computer device and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium to allow the computer to execute the question and answer providing method.

[0031] Figure 1 shows an example of a network environment in one embodiment of the present invention. The network environment in Figure 1 shows an example that includes a plurality of electronic devices 110, 120, 130, 140, a plurality of servers 150, 160, and a network 170. Figure 1 is merely an example for the purpose of explaining the invention, and the number of electronic devices and servers is not limited to that shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, the network environment in Figure 1 is merely an example illustrating one of the environments applicable to this embodiment, and the environments applicable to this embodiment are not limited to the network environment in Figure 1.

[0032] The multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 may be fixed terminals or mobile terminals implemented by computer devices. Examples of the multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 include smartphones, mobile phones, navigation systems, PCs (personal computers), notebook PCs, digital broadcasting terminals, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), PMPs (Portable Multimedia Players), and tablets. As an example, Figure 1 shows a smartphone as an example of electronic device 110, but in embodiments of the present invention, electronic device 110 may mean one of a variety of physical computer devices that can communicate with other electronic devices 120, 130, 140 and / or servers 150, 160 via the network 170 using substantially wireless or wired communication methods.

[0033] The communication method is not limited, and may include not only communication methods that utilize communication networks that can be included in network 170 (for example, mobile communication networks, wired internet, wireless internet, broadcasting networks), but also short-range wireless communication between devices. For example, network 170 may include one or more arbitrary networks such as PAN (personal area network), LAN (local area network), CAN (campus area network), MAN (metropolitan area network), WAN (wide area network), BBN (broadband network), and the Internet. Furthermore, network 170 may include, but is not limited to, one or more network topologies, including bus networks, star networks, ring networks, mesh networks, star-bus networks, tree or hierarchical networks.

[0034] Servers 150 and 160 may each be implemented by one or more computer devices that communicate with multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 via a network 170 to provide commands, code, files, content, services, etc. For example, server 150 may be a system that provides services (for example, a question and answer service) to multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 connected via a network 170.

[0035] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a computer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Each of the aforementioned electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140, as well as the servers 150 and 160, can be realized by the computer device 200 shown in Figure 2.

[0036] Such a computer device 200 may include a memory 210, a processor 220, a communication interface 230, and an input / output interface 240, as shown in Figure 2. The memory 210 is a computer-readable recording medium and may include RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), and a permanent mass storage device such as a disk drive. Here, the permanent mass storage device such as ROM and a disk drive may be included in the computer device 200 as a separate permanent storage device distinct from the memory 210. The memory 210 may also store an operating system and at least one program code. Such software components may be loaded into the memory 210 from a computer-readable recording medium separate from the memory 210. Such a separate computer-readable recording medium may include a floppy disk drive, a disk, a tape, a DVD / CD-ROM drive, a memory card, and other computer-readable recording media. In other embodiments, the software components may be loaded into the memory 210 through a communication interface 230 which is not a computer-readable recording medium. For example, software components may be loaded into the memory 210 of the computer device 200 based on a computer program installed by a file received via the network 170.

[0037] The processor 220 may be configured to process computer program instructions by performing basic arithmetic, logic, and input / output operations. Instructions may be provided to the processor 220 by memory 210 or a communication interface 230. For example, the processor 220 may be configured to execute instructions received according to program code stored in a recording device such as memory 210.

[0038] The communication interface 230 may provide a function for the computer device 200 to communicate with other devices (for example, the recording device described above) via the network 170. For example, requests, instructions, data, files, etc., generated by the processor 220 of the computer device 200 according to program code recorded in a recording device such as memory 210 may be transmitted to other devices via the network 170 under the control of the communication interface 230. Conversely, signals, instructions, data, files, etc., from other devices may be received by the computer device 200 via the network 170 through the communication interface 230 of the computer device 200. Signals, instructions, data, etc., received via the communication interface 230 may be transmitted to the processor 220 or memory 210, and files, etc., may be recorded on a recording medium (the persistent recording device described above) that the computer device 200 may further include.

[0039] The input / output interface 240 may be a means for interface with the input / output device 250. For example, the input device may include a microphone, keyboard, or mouse, and the output device may include a display or speaker. In another example, the input / output interface 240 may be a means for interface with a device that integrates input and output functions into one, such as a touchscreen. The input / output device 250 may consist of the computer device 200 and one other device.

[0040] In other embodiments, the computer device 200 may include fewer or more components than those shown in Figure 2. However, it is not necessary to explicitly show most of the conventional components in the figure. For example, the computer device 200 may be configured to include at least some of the input / output devices 250 described above, and may further include other components such as transceivers and databases.

[0041] The following describes specific embodiments of a method and apparatus for providing question-and-answer services in conjunction with an external question-and-answer platform via a chat room.

[0042] The computer device 200 according to this embodiment may provide a question-and-answer service to a client by connecting to a dedicated application installed on the client or to a web / mobile site associated with the computer device 200. The computer device 200 may be configured with a computer-implemented question-and-answer service provider. For example, the question-and-answer service provider may be implemented as an independently operating program, or it may be configured as an in-app application for a specific application so that it can operate on the specific application.

[0043] The processor 220 of the computer device 200 may be implemented by components for performing the question-and-answer provision method described below. Depending on the embodiment, the components of the processor 220 may be selectively included in or excluded from the processor 220. Also, depending on the embodiment, the components of the processor 220 may be separated or merged for the expression of the functions of the processor 220.

[0044] Such a processor 220 and its components may control the computer device 200 to perform steps included in the question-and-answer method described below. For example, the processor 220 and its components may be implemented to execute instructions from the operating system code contained in the memory 210 and the code of at least one program.

[0045] Here, the components of the processor 220 may be representations of different functions that are executed by the processor 220 in accordance with instructions provided by the program code recorded in the computer device 200.

[0046] The processor 220 may read necessary instructions from the memory 210, which is loaded with instructions related to the control of the computer device 200. In this case, the instructions read may include instructions for controlling the processor 220 to perform the steps described below.

[0047] The steps included in the question-and-answer method described below may be performed in a different order than shown in the diagram, some steps may be omitted, or additional processes may be included.

[0048] The steps included in the question-and-answer provision method may be performed on the client, and depending on the embodiment, at least part of the steps may be performed on the server 150.

[0049] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a method that a computer device according to one embodiment of the present invention can perform.

[0050] Referring to Figure 3, in step 310, the processor 220 may receive queries entered by the user via a chat room with a question-and-answer bot.

[0051] A question-and-answer bot may refer to a chatbot that works in conjunction with an AI (artificial intelligence) model trained using data from an external question-and-answer platform, a chatbot that generates answers using data from an external question-and-answer platform, or an OA (official account) chatbot of an external question-and-answer platform. In this embodiment, a chatbot with the functionality to provide AI (artificial intelligence) or other users' answers to user queries (hereinafter referred to as an "ask bot") and a chatbot with the functionality to recommend other user queries so that the user can answer them (hereinafter referred to as an "answer bot") will be described separately.

[0052] The processor 220 may provide a chat room with the question bot to users who have added the question bot to their messenger friends list, allowing users to move to the chat room with the question bot and enter their queries. The processor 220 may also link user accounts between the messenger and an external question-and-answer platform via the question bot.

[0053] In step 320, the processor 220 may receive an AI response to a user query, generated based on a post registered on an external Q&A platform, and display it in the chat room as a message of type 1. An AI response may mean an answer automatically generated through RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) based on at least one Q&A post on the external Q&A platform that is related to the user query. An AI response may be generated by referring to additional information in addition to the Q&A posts on the external Q&A platform. An AI response may mean an answer generated from an AI model trained using data from the external Q&A platform.

[0054] In step 330, the processor 220 may display the source of the AI ​​response to the user query as a second type message in the chat room. The processor 220 may display at least one post from among the posts registered on the external Q&A platform that was used as the source of the AI ​​response as a second type message. In this case, the second type message may consist of individual messages from each post that is the source of the AI ​​response, composed of a carousel component. The second type message may also include at least a portion of the content of each post for each message included in the carousel, and may include link information on the external Q&A platform.

[0055] In step 340, the processor 220 may display a message of type 3 in the chat room, along with the AI ​​response to the user query, providing guidance on registering the query. The processor 220 informs the user that they can register the user query on an external question-and-answer platform through the message of type 3, and the message of type 3 may include a UI for requesting the registration of the user query.

[0056] In step 350, if a user selects a third type of message, the processor 220 may receive it as a request to register a user query, and in accordance with the request, may send the user query to the external Q&A platform and register it as a query post. If the user wishes to receive answers from other AIs or other users in addition to the AI ​​answers provided as first type messages, they may register that query to the external Q&A platform by using a third type message via the chat room. In this case, the post registered to the external Q&A platform may be associated with a user account on the external Q&A platform that is linked to the user account on the messenger. For example, the query in question may be registered on the external Q&A platform only if the user account is linked between the external Q&A platform and the messenger. When a request to register a user query is received, the processor 220 may check whether the user account is linked between the external Q&A platform and the messenger. If user accounts are not linked between the external Q&A platform and the messenger, the processor 220 may provide an account linking screen for linking user accounts between the external Q&A platform and the messenger.

[0057] In step 360, the processor 220 may receive answers registered by other AIs or other users to user queries from an external question-and-answer platform as additional answers and display them in the chat room as a fourth type of message.

[0058] Figures 4-10 show examples of a question-and-answer process using a question bot in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] Figure 4 shows a one-to-one chat room (hereinafter referred to as the "question chat room") 400 between a question bot and a user. The processor 220 may provide the question chat room 400 to users to whom the question bot has been added to the messenger's friends list.

[0060] The processor 220 may receive a query 410 entered by the user via the question chat room 400 and display it in the question chat room 400 as a user message.

[0061] In this case, the question bot may send the user query 410 to an external question-and-answer platform and receive an AI response corresponding to the user query 410 from the external question-and-answer platform.

[0062] Referring to Figure 5, the processor 220 may display the AI ​​response 520 as a first type message in the question chat room 400 via the question bot.

[0063] The first type of message may include an AI response 520 that is automatically generated via RAG based on at least one post on an external Q&A platform that is related to the user query 410.

[0064] The processor 220 may display the source 530 of the AI ​​response 520 to the user query 410 as a second type message within the question chat room 400. The source 530 of the AI ​​response 520 may be a question-and-answer post on an external question-and-answer platform that formed the basis for generating the AI ​​response 520.

[0065] The second type of message may consist of individual messages from each post used in generating the AI ​​response 520, which may be comprised of a carousel component. Each message in the carousel may contain at least a portion of the content from each post and may include a link to the post on an external Q&A platform.

[0066] If a specific message is selected from the messages included in the carousel, the user may be redirected to an external Q&A platform via a link to the post contained within that message, and a webview of the post may be provided.

[0067] The processor 220 may display a query registration guidance message 540 for the user query 410 as a third type message in the question chat room 400, along with the AI ​​response 520 for the user query 410.

[0068] The third type of message may include a "Query Registration" UI 541 to request that the user query 410 be registered as a query post on an external Q&A platform. If the user wishes to receive other AI or other user responses in addition to the AI ​​response 520 provided as a first type of message, the user query 410 may be registered on the external Q&A platform via the "Query Registration" UI 541 of the query registration guidance message 540 through the question chat room 400. In this case, the post registered on the external Q&A platform may be associated with a user account on the external Q&A platform that is linked to the user account on the messenger. When the "Query Registration" UI 541 is selected, a screen for registering a post on the external Q&A platform may be provided, in which case the user account on the external Q&A platform may be displayed on the screen for registering a post, rather than the user account on the messenger. For example, a query may be registered on the external Q&A platform only if the user accounts are linked between the external Q&A platform and the messenger. When a user requests to register a query using the "Query Registration" UI541, it is acceptable to check whether the user account is linked between the external Q&A platform and the messenger. If the user account is not linked between the external Q&A platform and the messenger, the system may switch to an account linking screen to link the user account between the external Q&A platform and the messenger.

[0069] The system will generate AI answers 520 using question and answer posts on an external question and answer platform. However, if the minimum number of posts required to generate AI answers 520 does not exist, or if the number of posts is insufficient, an answer error message 650 may be displayed in the question chat room 400 as a fifth type message, as shown in Figure 6, instead of AI answers 520.

[0070] The fifth type of message may include a "query registration" UI651 to request that the user register the user query 410 as a query post on an external question-and-answer platform, along with a message informing the user of the absence or shortage of posts.

[0071] Users may register user queries 410 to an external question-and-answer platform via the question chat room 400 using the "query registration" UI 651 of the answer error message 650.

[0072] If user query 410 contains errors such as typos or prohibited words, a query correction request message can be displayed as a Type 6 message in the question chat room 400.

[0073] The sixth type of message may include only a guidance message to prompt the user to re-enter user query 410, and may omit UI elements such as those for requesting query registration.

[0074] Referring to Figure 7, if the user selects the "Query Registration" UI 541 in the query registration guidance message 540 in the question chat room 400, the processor 220 may register the user query 410 as a query post on the external question answering platform and display the query registration completion message 760 as a seventh type message in the question chat room 400.

[0075] The seventh type of message may include a message informing users that user query 410 has been registered as a query post on an external question-and-answer platform, along with a "View Details" UI761 to check the query registration history.

[0076] If the user selects the "View Details" UI 761 of the query registration completion message 760 in the question chat room 400, the processor 220 may provide a question and answer details screen 800 that links with an external question and answer platform, as shown in Figure 8. The user account of the external question and answer platform may be displayed on the question and answer details screen 800, rather than the user account on the messenger.

[0077] The Q&A details screen 800 may be a screen that has been processed to focus on the Q&A content relevant to the user from among the posts on an external Q&A platform.

[0078] The question and answer details screen 800 may consist of a question-related tab that provides a summary of the query registered by the user and the answers from other AIs and other users to that query, and an answer-related tab that provides a summary of the answers registered by the user to the queries of other users.

[0079] If the user selects the "View Details" UI 761 in the query registration completion message 760 in the question chat room 400, the processor 220 may display the user query 410 registered by the user via the question-related tab on the question and answer details screen 800.

[0080] Depending on the embodiment, if a user selects the "View Details" UI761 in the query registration completion message 760 in the question chat room 400, they may be redirected to an external question and answer platform and provided with a web view of the query post registered as user query 410 as a post registered by the user.

[0081] Referring to Figure 9, if the processor 220 receives a response from an external question-and-answer platform to a user query 410 that has been registered by another AI or another user, it may make the received response an additional response 970 and display it in the question-and-answer room 400 as a fourth type message.

[0082] The fourth type of message may include at least some of the content 971 of a response 410 registered by another AI or another user, and may include a "View Details" UI 972 for reviewing the response.

[0083] If the user selects the "View Details" UI972 for an additional answer 970 in the question chat room 400, the processor 220 may provide a question and answer details screen 800 that interacts with an external question and answer platform, as shown in Figure 10, and display a list of answers 1020 registered by other AIs or other users for the user query 410 via the question-related tabs on the question and answer details screen 800.

[0084] Each answer included in the answer list 1020 may include the overall content 1021 of answers registered by other AIs or other users, a "best answer selection" UI 1022 for setting the best answer for a user query 410, etc.

[0085] Depending on the embodiment, if a user selects the "View Details" UI972 for an additional answer 970 in the question chat room 400, they may be redirected to an external question-and-answer platform, which may provide a web view of the overall list of answers registered by other AIs or other users for the user query 410.

[0086] Message types 1 through 7 distinguish the message types displayed through question chat room 400, and may mean that they are configured to differ in at least some interface elements.

[0087] Figure 11 is a flowchart showing another example of a method that a computer device according to one embodiment of the present invention can perform.

[0088] Referring to Figure 11, in step 1110, the processor 220 may select at least one recommended query from the query posts registered on the external Q&A platform. The answer bot, in conjunction with the external Q&A platform, may select a question with a title corresponding to the user intent as a recommended query from among the queries registered on the external Q&A platform within the most recent predetermined period. The processor 220 may select queries to recommend to the user based on interests that have been set in the user profile in advance, as well as interests that have been grasped from the user's recent answer registration history.

[0089] The selection criteria for recommended queries may include not only interests but also user history data related to Q&A, the recency and popularity of posts registered on external Q&A platforms, and accounts that the user has favorited. For example, if a user who previously answered a query registers a new query, that query may be selected as a recommended query. Furthermore, popular queries and queries registered by users of favorite accounts may also be selected as recommended queries for the user.

[0090] In step 1120, the processor 220 may display the recommended query as a message of type 8 in the chat room via a chat room with a bot that interacts with an external Q&A platform (i.e., an answer bot). The processor 220 may link user accounts between the external Q&A platform and the messenger, and provide a chat room with the answer bot to users who have added the answer bot to their messenger friends list, and may recommend the relevant query to the user intent via the chat room with the answer bot. In this case, the message of type 8 may consist of a carousel component with at least one recommended query. Each query included in the carousel may contain at least part of the content of a query post and may contain link information on the external Q&A platform.

[0091] In step 1130, if the user selects one of the recommended queries in the chat room with the answer bot and creates and enters an answer to that query, the processor 220 may send the user's answer to an external Q&A platform and register it as an answer to the recommended query. At this time, the user's answer to the recommended query may be transmitted to the external Q&A platform via the chat room with the answer bot and displayed as a post on the external Q&A platform. Depending on the embodiment, the user's answer to the recommended query may be displayed via a screen overlaid on the chat room with the answer bot, or via another screen accessed from the chat room with the answer bot.

[0092] Figures 12-15 show an example of a question-and-answer process using a response bot in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0093] Figure 12 shows a one-to-one chat room (hereinafter referred to as the "answer chat room") 1200 between the answer bot and the user. The processor 220 may link user accounts between the external question-and-answer platform and the messenger, and provide the answer chat room 1200 to users to whom the question bot has been added to the messenger's friends list.

[0094] Referring to Figure 12, the processor 220 may display at least one recommended query 1210 from among the query posts registered on the external question-answering platform as a message of type 8 within the response chat room 1200.

[0095] The eighth type of message may consist of a recommendation query 1210 in a carousel component. Each recommendation query 1210 in the carousel of the eighth type of message may contain a question 1211 registered in an external question-and-answer platform, and may include an "answer" UI 1212 for users to register answers to the queries.

[0096] A specific location in the carousel consisting of the recommended queries 1210 (for example, the last item) may include a "See More" UI 1220 for accessing the overall query list on an external Q&A platform.

[0097] If the user selects the "Answer" UI 1212 for a specific recommendation query 1210 in the answer chat room 1200, the processor 220 may display an answer guidance message 1320 for the recommendation query 1210 as a type 9 message in the answer chat room 1200, as shown in Figure 13.

[0098] The ninth type of message may include the recommended query content 1321 that the user selected for the response in the response chat room 1200.

[0099] Referring to Figure 14, if the user creates and enters a response 1430 in the response chat room 1200 according to the response guidance message 1320, the processor 220 may display the user response 1430 as a message of type 10 in the response chat room 1200.

[0100] When the processor 220 receives a user response 1430 to a recommendation query 1210 via the response chat room 1200, it may transmit the user response 1430 to an external question-and-answer platform and display a response registration completion message 1440 as a message of type 11 within the response chat room 1200.

[0101] The 11th type message may include at least a portion of the content 1441 of the recommendation query 1210, at least a portion of the content 1442 of the response registered by the user to the recommendation query 1210, and may include a "View Details" UI 1443 for checking the response registration history.

[0102] If the user selects the "View Details" UI 1443 of the response registration completion message 1440 in the response chat room 1200, the processor 220 may provide a question and answer details screen 800 that interacts with an external question and answer platform, as shown in Figure 15.

[0103] If the user selects the "View Details" UI 1443 for the response registration completion message 1440 in the response chat room 1200, the processor 220 may display the user's response 1430 to the recommended query 1210 via the response-related tab on the question and answer details screen 800.

[0104] The processor 220 may, via the answer-related tab on the question-and-answer details screen 800, display not only the user's answer 1430 but also the list of answers registered by other AIs or other users in response to the recommendation query 1210.

[0105] Depending on the embodiment, if a user selects the "View Details" UI 1443 in the response chat room 1200 after completing the response registration message 1440, they may be redirected to an external Q&A platform and provided with a web view of the overall list of responses registered in the recommendation query 1210.

[0106] Referring to Figure 16, the question chat room 400 and the answer chat room 1200 may include a "My Q&A" UI 1601 for accessing the question and answer details screen 800 via the menu list of the chat room.

[0107] The processor 220 may provide a detailed question and answer screen 800 in accordance with user requests from multiple routes. In this case, the processor 220 may manage user-related question and answer data via the detailed question and answer screen 800, including user-registered queries and responses from other AIs and other users to those queries, and queries recommended to the user and responses registered by the user to those queries (other user queries).

[0108] The terms "Type 1," "Type 2," "Type 3," etc., used herein are merely used to distinguish message types, and the same term does not refer to the same message type in multiple embodiments or claims. Messages in chat rooms linked to an external question-and-answer platform (question chat room 400 and answer chat room 1200) may be displayed in any one of the multiple message types, in which case at least some interface elements may be configured differently depending on the message type.

[0109] Thus, according to the embodiments of the present invention, by providing a question-and-answer service through a chat room with a bot that is linked to an external question-and-answer platform, it is possible to improve the accessibility and ease of use of the service and to revitalize the question-and-answer service.

[0110] The above-described apparatus may be implemented by hardware components, software components, and / or combinations of hardware and software components. For example, the apparatus and components described in the embodiments may be implemented using one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers, such as processors, controllers, ALUs (arithmetic logic units), digital signal processors, microcomputers, FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), PLUs (programmable logic units), microprocessors, or various devices capable of executing and responding to instructions. The processing unit may execute an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running on the OS. The processing unit may also respond to software execution, access data, record, manipulate, process, and generate data. For convenience of understanding, it may be described as if a single processing unit is used, but those skilled in the art will understand that the processing unit may include multiple processing elements and / or multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing unit may include multiple processors or one processor and one controller. Other processing configurations, such as parallel processors, are also possible.

[0111] Software may include computer programs, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of these, which may configure a processing unit to operate as desired, or which may instruct the processing unit independently or collectively. Software and / or data may be embodied in any kind of machine, component, physical device, computer recording medium, or device for interpretation based on the processing unit or for providing instructions or data to the processing unit. Software may be distributed across a networked computer system, and may be recorded or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media.

[0112] The methods according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions executable by various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. In this case, the medium may continuously record computer-executable programs or may temporarily record them for execution or download. Furthermore, the medium may be various recording or storage means in the form of a combination of one or more hardware components, and may be a medium directly connected to a computer system or distributed on a network. Examples of mediums include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, and devices configured to record program instructions such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory. Other examples of mediums include recording media and storage media managed by app stores that distribute applications, and sites and servers that supply and distribute various other software.

[0113] As described above, embodiments have been explained based on limited embodiments and drawings, but those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications and variations from the above description. For example, the described technique may be performed in a different order than described, and / or the components of the described system, structure, apparatus, circuit, etc. may be combined or assembled in a different manner than described, or opposed or replaced by other components or equivalents, and still achieve suitable results.

[0114] Therefore, even if the embodiment is different, it falls within the scope of the attached claims if it is equivalent to the claims.

[0115] This application claims priority based on Patent Application No. 10-2024-0179581, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on December 5, 2024, and the entire contents of said Patent Application No. 10-2024-0179581 are incorporated into this application by reference. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0116] 110, 120, 130, 140: Electronic equipment 150, 160: Server 170: Network

Claims

1. A method for providing questions and answers for a computer device including at least one processor, With the aforementioned at least one processor, The steps include displaying user-entered queries via a chat room with a bot that integrates with an external Q&A platform, and The steps include displaying the answer to the query as a message of type 1 in the chat room, The steps include displaying the source of the aforementioned answer as a second type message in the chat room, A method for providing questions and answers, including the method of providing answers.

2. The step of displaying it as the first type message is: The question-and-answer provision method according to claim 1, wherein a response generated based on at least one post related to the query from among the question-and-answer posts registered on the external question-and-answer platform is displayed as the first type of message.

3. The step of displaying it as the second type of message is: The question-and-answer method according to claim 2, which displays a second type of message that includes a link to the external question-and-answer platform for the post from which the answer originates.

4. The aforementioned method of providing questions and answers is: The question-and-answer method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of displaying an answer error message as a third type of message in the chat room if the minimum number of posts required to generate the answer is not available by the at least one processor.

5. The aforementioned method of providing questions and answers is: The question-and-answer method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a query correction request message as a fourth type message in the chat room if the query contains an error, using at least one processor.

6. The aforementioned method of providing questions and answers is: The question-and-answer provision method according to claim 1, comprising the step of using at least one processor to request the external question-and-answer platform to register the query in accordance with the user's request.

7. The aforementioned method of providing questions and answers is: With the aforementioned at least one processor, In response to the registration request for the aforementioned query, the process includes the step of checking whether a user account is linked between the external question-and-answer platform and the messenger, The question-and-answer provision method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of displaying an account linking screen for linking the user account between the external question-and-answer platform and the messenger if the user account is not linked between the external question-and-answer platform and the messenger.

8. The step of requesting the aforementioned registration is: The step includes displaying a query registration guidance message for the aforementioned query as a fifth type message in the chat room, The question-and-answer provision method according to claim 6, wherein the fifth type of message includes a UI for requesting the registration of the query as a post on the external question-and-answer platform.

9. The aforementioned method of providing questions and answers is: The question-and-answer provision method according to claim 6, comprising the steps of receiving registered answers for the query from the external question-and-answer platform using at least one processor, and displaying the received answers as a sixth type message in the chat room.

10. A method for providing questions and answers for a computer device including at least one processor, With the aforementioned at least one processor, The steps include: displaying at least one recommended query from among the queries registered on the external Q&A platform via a chat room with a bot that is linked to the external Q&A platform; The steps include receiving user responses to the recommendation query via the chat room and requesting the external question-and-answer platform to register the user responses, A method for providing questions and answers, including the method of providing answers.

11. The step of displaying at least one recommendation query is: A method for providing a question and answer service according to claim 10, comprising the step of selecting a recommended query from queries registered in the external question and answer platform based on user intent or user history related to the question and answer.

12. A computer program that causes the computer device to execute the question and answer provision method described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A computer device comprising at least one processor configured to execute instructions readable by the computer device, With the aforementioned at least one processor, The process involves displaying user queries via a chat room with a bot that integrates with an external Q&A platform, and A process of displaying the answer to the query as a message of type 1 in the chat room, A process of displaying the source of the aforementioned answer as a second type message in the chat room, A computer device that processes data.

14. With the aforementioned at least one processor, The computer device according to claim 13, which displays a response generated based on at least one post related to the query from among the question-and-answer posts registered on the external question-and-answer platform as a message of the first type.

15. With the aforementioned at least one processor, The computer device according to claim 14, which displays the second type of message, which includes a link to the external question-and-answer platform for the post from which the answer originates.

16. With the aforementioned at least one processor, The computer device according to claim 14, which, if the minimum number of posts required to generate the aforementioned answer is not met, displays an answer error message as a third type of message in the chat room.

17. With the aforementioned at least one processor, The computer device according to claim 13, wherein if the query contains an error, a query correction request message is displayed in the chat room as a fourth type message.

18. With the aforementioned at least one processor, The computer device according to claim 13, which requests the registration of the query from the external question-and-answer platform in accordance with the user's request.

19. With the aforementioned at least one processor, In response to the registration request for the aforementioned query, it is checked whether the user account is linked between the external question-and-answer platform and the messenger. The computer device according to claim 18, which, if the user account is not linked between the external question-and-answer platform and the messenger, displays an account linking screen for linking the user account between the external question-and-answer platform and the messenger.

20. With the aforementioned at least one processor, A query registration guidance message for the aforementioned query is displayed in the chat room as a fifth type message. The computer device according to claim 18, wherein the fifth type of message includes a UI for requesting the registration of the query as a post on the external question-and-answer platform.

21. With the aforementioned at least one processor, The computer device according to claim 18, which receives registered answers to the query from the external question-and-answer platform and displays the received answers as a sixth type message in the chat room.

22. A computer device comprising at least one processor configured to execute instructions readable by the computer device, With the aforementioned at least one processor, A process to display at least one recommended query from among the queries registered on the external Q&A platform via a chat room with a bot that is linked to the external Q&A platform, A process of receiving user responses to the recommendation query via the chat room and requesting the registration of the user responses from the external question-and-answer platform, A computer device that processes data.

Images