System and Method

Abstract

This provides a novel system and method for displaying advertisements. [Solution] A system comprising at least one computer device, comprising: storage means for storing a first user in association with other users; and advertising display means for controlling a first user terminal operated by the first user to display information relating to a product, service, or business, along with an advertisement relating to a product, service, or business, and / or for controlling the first user terminal to display information relating to the other user's feelings or opinions about a product, service, or business, along with an advertisement relating to a product, service, or business.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and a method.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in social networking services (hereinafter referred to as SNS), advertisements corresponding to the interests and concerns of users have been displayed.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] To provide a novel system and method for displaying advertisements.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] According to the present invention, the above object is achieved by [1] A system including at least one computer device, the system comprising storage means for storing in association with a first user and other users, and in a first user terminal operated by the first user, controlling to display information on answers by the other users to questions regarding products, services or merchants together with advertisements regarding products, services or merchants, and / or controlling to display information on feelings or opinions of the other users regarding products, services or merchants together with advertisements regarding products, services or merchants; [2] The system according to [1] above, wherein the storage means includes a display control means that, when a first user is stored in association with a second user, controls the display of posts by the second user on a screen that displays posts by multiple users on the first user terminal, and the advertising display means controls the display of information by the second user to a question about a product, service, or business, along with an advertisement for the product, service, or business, and / or controls the display of information by the second user to express their feelings or opinions about the product, service, or business, along with an advertisement for the product, service, or business, on the first user terminal; [3] The system described in [1] above, wherein the storage means includes a display control means that, when a third user is stored in association with a first user, controls the display of posts by the first user on a screen that displays posts by multiple users on the third user terminal, and the advertising display means controls the display of information related to the third user's answers to questions about a product, service, or business, along with advertisements about the product, service, or business, on the first user terminal operated by the first user, and / or controls the display of information related to the third user's feelings or opinions about the product, service, or business, along with advertisements about the product, service, or business, on the first user terminal; [4] A system according to any of [1] to [3] above, comprising a means for obtaining answers from other users to questions about a product, service, or business, or the feelings or opinions of other users towards a product, service, or business, from other users' terminals operated by other users, wherein the advertising display means is controlled to display information about the answers from other users to questions about a product, service, or business, together with the advertisement, based on the obtained answers, or to display information about the feelings or opinions of other users towards a product, service, or business, together with the advertisement, based on the obtained feelings or opinions; [5] The system described in [4] above, comprising a second display control means that controls the display of an input form for entering answers to questions about products, services, or businesses, or for entering feelings or opinions about products, services, or businesses, on a screen that displays posts made by multiple users on other user terminals, wherein the answer acquisition means acquires input into the input form by operations on other user terminals as answers or feelings or opinions; [6] A system according to any of [1] to [5] above, wherein the advertising means is controlled to display information relating to positive responses to a product, service, or business as information relating to other users' responses to questions about a product, service, or business, or to display information relating to positive feelings or opinions about a product, service, or business as information relating to other users' feelings or opinions about a product, service, or business; [7] The system described in [6], wherein the advertising means is controlled to display the number of other users who have given positive answers to a product, service, or business, as information relating to other users' answers to a question about a product, service, or business, or to display the number of other users who have expressed positive feelings or opinions about a product, service, or business, as information relating to other users' feelings or opinions about a product, service, or business; [8] The system according to any one of [1] to [7] above, wherein the advertising display means controls the display of the advertisement on a screen that displays posts by multiple users on a first user terminal; [9] A system according to any of [1] to [8] above, which controls the display of additional information about a product, service, or business, or information for purchasing a product or using a service, or information for purchasing a product or using a service provided by a business, by operating on the first user terminal and selecting a displayed advertisement or a hyperlink provided near an advertisement;

[10] A method performed in a system comprising at least one computer device, the method comprising: a storage step of storing a first user in association with other users; and an advertising display step of controlling a first user terminal operated by the first user to display information relating to the other user's answers to questions about a product, service, or business, along with an advertisement relating to a product, service, or business, and / or controlling the first user terminal to display information relating to the other user's feelings or opinions about a product, service, or business, along with an advertisement relating to a product, service, or business; This can be achieved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0005] According to the present invention, a novel system for outputting advertisements can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a user terminal according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a server device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart of the posting process according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart of the timeline display process according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart of the response acquisition process according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart of the advertisement generation process according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a flowchart of the additional information display process according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of a display screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of a display screen according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] The following describes embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments unless it contradicts the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the description of effects is only one aspect of the effects of the embodiments of the present invention and is not limited to those described herein. The order of each process constituting the flowchart described below is not limited to any order insofar as it does not cause contradictions or inconsistencies in the processing content. It is also possible to omit some of the processes constituting the flowchart or to add new processes to each process constituting the flowchart, as long as it does not contradict the spirit of the present invention. In addition, the device that is the main entity that executes each process constituting the flowchart can be changed to another device unless it contradicts the spirit of the present invention. In this case, it is possible to change the processing content so as not to cause contradictions or inconsistencies in the processing content.

[0008] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system according to an embodiment. The system 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of user terminals 2 and a server device 3. The user terminals 2 and the server device 3 may be able to communicate with each other via a communication network 4. Each of the plurality of users operates each of the plurality of user terminals 2.

[0009] User terminal 2 may be a stationary device or a portable device that the user can carry when moving. Examples of user terminal 2 include smartphones, tablet devices, desktop and notebook personal computers, and conventional mobile phones. It is preferable that user terminal 2 is a portable device such as a smartphone or tablet device.

[0010] Also, the number of server devices 3 included in the system 1 may be two or more. Each server device 3 may execute various processes such as the answer acquisition process and the advertisement display process described later by one server device 3, or may execute various processes such as the answer acquisition process and the advertisement display process described later in a distributed manner among a plurality of server devices 3. For example, instead of the server device 3, a distributed ledger technology such as blockchain may be used.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user terminal 2 includes a control unit 21, a RAM 22, a storage unit 23, an input unit 24, a display unit 25, and a communication interface 26, which are connected by a bus.

[0012] The control unit 21 is composed of a CPU and a ROM. The control unit 21 executes a program stored in the storage unit 23 to control the user terminal 2. The RAM 22 is a work area of the control unit 21. The storage unit 23 is a storage area for storing programs and data. That is, the storage unit 23 functions as a recording medium storing a program. The control unit 21 performs arithmetic processing based on the program and data read from the RAM 22 and the data input by the input unit 24.

[0013] The display unit 25 has a display screen. The control unit 21 outputs a video signal for displaying an image on the display screen according to the result of the arithmetic processing. Here, the display screen of the display unit 25 may be a touch panel including a touch sensor. In this case, the touch panel functions as the input unit 24.

[0014] The communication interface 26 can be connected to the communication network 4 wirelessly or by wire, and can transmit and receive data to and from other computer devices via the communication network 4. The data received via the communication interface 26 is loaded into the RAM 22, and arithmetic processing is performed by the control unit 21.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the server device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The server device 3 includes at least a control unit 31, a RAM 32, a storage unit 33, and a communication interface 34, which are connected by an internal bus.

[0016] The control unit 31 is composed of a CPU and a ROM, executes a program stored in the storage unit 33, and controls the server device 3. The control unit 31 also includes an internal timer for measuring time. The RAM 32 is a work area of the control unit 31. The storage unit 33 is a storage area for storing programs and data. That is, the storage unit 33 functions as a recording medium storing a program. The control unit 31 reads a program and data from the RAM 32, and performs execution processing of various programs based on information received from the user terminal 2 and the like.

[0017] A case where the system 1 is applied to an information posting platform such as an SNS (Social Networking Service) (a service where multiple users can post information) will be described. The SNS is not particularly limited as long as it allows users to post images such as text and photos, audio, or videos.

[0018] Note that the system 1 can also be applied to services other than SNS. For example, it can also be applied to the following web services, such as search engine sites, Q&A sites, distribution and sharing services for videos, video contents, music, games, etc., EC sites, CtoC matching sites, online learning sites, cloud storage services, online payment services, online conferencing tools, chat tools, blogs, news sites, etc.

[0019] The user operates the user terminal 2 to log in to the system 1. The user's login to the system 1 may be through a web browser or through a dedicated application for using the SNS.

[0020] This section describes the posting process by which users post messages, images, audio, videos, etc., on social networking services (SNS). Figure 4 is a flowchart of the posting process according to an embodiment.

[0021] A user can log in to System 1 by operating User Terminal 2 and post text, images, audio, videos, etc., to the SNS by performing a predetermined operation. On User Terminal 2, a screen for entering a post is displayed, and the user enters a text message, image, audio, or video to post (Step S1). The post entered in Step S1 may consist of only one of the following: a message, image, audio, or video, or it may be a combination of multiple different data formats, such as text and image, or text and video.

[0022] Posts entered on user terminal 2 are sent to server device 3 (step S2). When server device 3 receives the post (step S3), the received post is stored in the storage unit 33 of server device 3 (step S4). In step S4, the content of the post (information such as text, images, audio, and video entered on user terminal 2) is stored in the storage unit 33, associated with the account of the user who made the post and the time of posting. Steps S1 to S4 complete the posting process.

[0023] This section explains the timeline display process. Here, the timeline is a display of posts from multiple users other than User 1 (hereinafter referred to as "User 1") on User Terminal 2 operated by User 1. The posts displayed on the timeline vary depending on the user. The timeline may display not only posts from other users other than User 1, but also posts from User 1 themselves. Multiple posts may be displayed side by side on the timeline, either vertically or horizontally.

[0024] Posts by the first user and other users are displayed in the order they were posted. For example, newer posts appear higher up on the timeline, and older posts appear lower down. However, not all posts need to be displayed in the order they were posted; it is sufficient if multiple posts are displayed in the order they were effectively posted, and some posts may be displayed in a different order as an exception.

[0025] Users can pre-configure their timelines to prioritize posts from specific users. This process of prioritizing posts from a particular user (User A) in the timeline can be defined as "following User A."

[0026] The timeline prioritizes displaying users that the first user follows. Here, we define users that the first user follows as "second users." When the first user follows a second user, the storage unit 33 of the server device 3 stores the identification information that identifies the first user (for example, the first user's username or user account) and the identification information that identifies the second user (for example, the second user's username or user account) in association with each other.

[0027] Here, a "second user" is defined as a user that the first user "follows." However, for the purpose of displaying posts by the second user preferentially over posts by other users on the first user's terminal operated by the first user, it is sufficient for the first user's identification information and the second user's identification information to be associated and stored. In such cases, terms other than "follow" (for example, "subscribe" or "friend") can be used.

[0028] By the way, other users can also follow the first user. A user who follows the first user is defined as a "third user". When a third user follows the first user, the storage unit 33 of the server device 3 stores identification information that identifies the third user (for example, the third user's username or user account) and identification information that identifies the first user (for example, the first user's username or user account) in association. Alternatively, the storage unit 33 of the server device 3 may store the third user's identification information in association with the first user's identification information.

[0029] Here, a user who "follows" the first user is defined as a "third user." However, for a "third user" to be considered a third user, it is sufficient that the third user's identification information and the first user's identification information are associated and stored in the third user's terminal, with the aim of displaying posts by the first user with priority over posts by other users.

[0030] In the above, we defined the second and third users as other users stored in association with the first user, and explained that the second user's posts are displayed preferentially on the first user's timeline, and the first user's posts are displayed preferentially on the third user's timeline. However, System 1 only needs to be stored in association with the first user, and can be applied even when the first user and other users are stored in association without affecting the first user's timeline or the timelines of other users. For example, the system can be configured such that the first user's terminal can send messages to other user terminals via the server device, and can also be configured such that other user terminals can send messages to the first user's terminal via the server device, as the first user and other users are stored in association.

[0031] Figure 5 is a flowchart of the timeline display process according to the embodiment. Figures 9 and 10 show the timeline according to the embodiment. When the first user logs into system 1 by operating user terminal 2, the timeline can be displayed on display screen 40. First, user terminal 2 sends a request to display the timeline (step S11). The request to display the timeline is executed, for example, by selecting a button to display the timeline displayed on display screen 40 of user terminal 2.

[0032] Server device 3 receives a timeline display request from user terminal 2 (step S12). Server device 3 identifies posts to be displayed on user terminal 2 (step S13). In step S13, posts to be displayed on user terminal 2 are identified from the posts stored in storage unit 33 in step S4. The number of posts identified is determined; one or more posts are identified. In step S13, posts by user 2 that user 1 is following are identified preferentially.

[0033] In step S13, in addition to posts by other users to be displayed on user terminal 2, advertisements may also be identified. In step S13, advertisements with questions and advertisements with answer information, as described later, can be identified.

[0034] The one or more advertisements and one or more posts identified in step S13 are sent from the server device 3 to the user terminal 2 (step S14). When the user terminal 2 receives the advertisements and posts (step S15), the received advertisements and posts are displayed on the user terminal 2's timeline (step S16). Steps S11 to S16 complete the timeline display process.

[0035] The post 50a displayed in step S16 may include, for example, not only text 55a, images, audio, or video posted by the user, but also the username 51a, user account 52a, user icon 54a, and information 53a regarding the time the post was made (for example, the time it was made and the time elapsed since it was made). Additionally, a button 56a (a so-called "like") to express positive feelings or opinions about the post 50a from other users besides the user who made the post 50a, and the number of other users who pressed the button, may be displayed as part of the post 50a.

[0036] In step S16, the timeline of user terminal 2 can display not only posts by the first user and posts by other users, but also ad with a question 50b and ad with answer information 50c, arranged in the same way as post 50a. Furthermore, on the timeline, 10 posts may be displayed in a row, followed by 1 ad, then 10 more posts, followed by 1 ad, and so on, with ads being displayed at a predetermined ratio for multiple posts.

[0037] Advertisements may inform about goods or services, or they may inform about businesses. Businesses may be for-profit or non-profit. Advertisements may be text advertisements, image advertisements, audio advertisements, or video advertisements, or they may be a combination of text, images, audio, and video.

[0038] This section explains Advertisement 50b with Questions. Advertisement 50b with Questions displays an advertisement for a product, service, or business, along with questions about that product, service, or business. A button for answering the questions may be provided.

[0039] The ad with a question 50b may display, for example, a text message 55b, as well as the advertiser's username 51b, the advertiser's user account 52b, the advertiser's icon 54b, and information 53b about the time the ad was posted. In addition, images 57 or videos related to the product, service, or business being advertised may be displayed.

[0040] Furthermore, below the image 57 or video, questions 58 about the product, service, or business being advertised are displayed. If the product being advertised is a product, questions about that product may be displayed, questions about services related to that product may be displayed, and questions about the business that provides that product may be displayed. If the service being advertised is a service, questions about that service may be displayed, questions about products related to that service may be displayed, and questions about the business that provides that service may be displayed. Furthermore, if the business being advertised is a business, questions about that business may be displayed, and questions about the products or services that that business provides may be displayed.

[0041] Question 58 in ad with questions 50b is not particularly limited, as long as it allows the user to respond with positive feelings, opinions, or actions related to the advertised product, service, or business. Specific examples of Question 58 in ad with questions 50b include questions asking whether the user has positive feelings towards the advertised product, service, or business; questions asking whether the user has positive opinions towards the advertised product, service, or business; questions asking whether the user has taken positive actions towards the advertised product, service, or business; or questions asking whether the user is likely to take positive actions towards the advertised product, service, or business in the future.

[0042] The response acquisition process will now be explained. Figure 6 is a flowchart of the response acquisition process according to the embodiment.

[0043] When an advertisement with questions 50b is displayed on the timeline on the display screen 40 of the user terminal 2, the user inputs an answer by operating the user terminal 2 (step S21). For example, the advertisement with questions 50b displays questions 58 such as "Have you played this game?", "Have you bought this game?", "Do you want to buy this game?", "Do you like this game?", and "Is the music in this game great?" (questions along the lines of "Have you used the product advertised in this ad?", "Have you bought the product advertised in this ad?", "Do you want to buy the product advertised in this ad?", "Do you have a good impression of the product advertised in this ad?", and "Is the product advertised in this ad great?"), and further displays two options 59a and 59d as answers to question 58, "I played it" and "I did not play it". Here, option 59a, "I played it", is an affirmative answer, and option 59b is a negative answer.

[0044] The user can press either of these options 59a or 59d by operating user terminal 2. The number of options is not particularly limited and may be changed depending on the question.

[0045] To the right of options 59a and 59d, graphs 59b and 59e corresponding to each option are displayed. Further to the right of those, the number of responses 59c and 59f corresponding to each option are displayed. The longer graphs 59b and 59, the more users who have responded to each of options 59a and 59d. The number of responses 59c and 59f represent the number of users who have responded to each option, and these numbers increase each time a user responds.

[0046] Furthermore, input forms for entering answers to questions about products, services, or businesses, and input forms for entering feelings or opinions about products, services, or businesses (described later), are not particularly limited and may display options as described above, or they may display text boxes that allow text input.

[0047] The response entered by user terminal 2 is sent to server device 3 along with the user's identification information (step S22). Server device 3 receives the response from user terminal 2 (step S23). Server device 3 stores the received response (whether it is a positive or negative response) in storage unit 33, associating it with identification information that identifies the advertisement corresponding to the question (or identification information that identifies the product, service, or business corresponding to the advertisement) and the user's identification information (step S24). The response acquisition process is completed by steps S21 to S24.

[0048] Let me explain the Advertisement with Answer Information 50c. Advertisement with Answer Information 50c allows a first user to display information about other users (second users) who follow the first user and who have given a positive response to the Advertisement with Question 50b about the product, service, or business that is the target of the Advertisement with Answer Information 50c, along with the advertisement for that product, service, or business. Additionally, Advertisement with Answer Information 50c allows a first user to display information about other users (third users) who follow the first user and who have given a positive response to the Advertisement with Question 50b about the product, service, or business that is the target of the Advertisement with Answer Information 50c, along with the advertisement for that product, service, or business.

[0049] After a question-attached advertisement 50b is posted and a predetermined time has elapsed, an advertisement 50c with answer information about the product, service, or business that is the target of the question-attached advertisement 50b may be posted automatically by the server device 2 or by the advertiser operating the user terminal 2. Furthermore, when a question-attached advertisement 50b is posted and the number of users who have answered the question reaches a predetermined number, an advertisement 50c with answer information about the product, service, or business that is the target of the question-attached advertisement 50b may be posted automatically by the server device 2 or by the advertiser operating the user terminal 2.

[0050] The ad with response information 50c may display, for example, a text message 55c, as well as the advertiser's username 51c, the advertiser's user account 52c, the advertiser's icon 54c, and information 53c about the time the ad was posted. The message 55c of the ad with response information 50c may be the same as or different from the message 55b of the ad with question information 50b.

[0051] In addition, the ad with answer information 50c displays images 57 or videos related to the product, service, or business being advertised. The images 57 or videos in the ad with answer information 50c may be the same as or different from the images 57b in the ad with question information 50b.

[0052] Below the image 57 or video of the Ad with Answer Information 50c, the Answer Information 60 is displayed regarding the product, service, or business being advertised. The Answer Information 60 includes the username (or user account or user icon) and number of second users followed by the first user who gave a positive response regarding the product, service, or business being advertised in Ad with Answer Information 50c, such as "○○, whom you follow, has purchased product A," or "○○, whom you follow, is considering liking product B."

[0053] Alternatively, response information 60 may include statements such as, "35 of the people you follow have purchased product A," or "35 of the people you follow consider product B to be a good product," displaying the usernames (or user accounts or user icons) of third users who follow the first user and who have given a positive response regarding the product, service, or business advertised in response information ad 50c, as well as the number of such third users.

[0054] Thus, by including information about positive responses from second and third users—who are likely to have similar thoughts and preferences to the first user—to the advertisement, it becomes possible to achieve high advertising effectiveness, such as leading to the purchase of the product or service via the advertisement or increasing favorability towards the business. In particular, if the advertisement includes a hyperlink, the presence of response information 60 makes it easier for the specified information to be displayed on the user terminal 2 via the hyperlink.

[0055] Figure 7 is a flowchart of the advertisement generation process according to the embodiment. The advertisement generation process is executed on the server device 3. The advertisement generation process is executed, for example, in step S13 when identifying the advertisements and posts to be displayed on the user terminal 2. First, the identification information of the second or third user, which has been stored in association with the identification information of the first user, is identified (step S31). Next, from the identified identification information of the second or third user, the second or third user who gave a positive response to advertisement 1, based on the information stored in step S24 regarding the product, service, or business that is the subject of the advertisement, is identified (step S32).

[0056] Next, the number of second or third users who gave a positive response, as identified in step S32, is determined (step S33). The usernames, user accounts, or user icons of the second or third users who gave a positive response, as identified in step S32, or the number of second or third users identified in step S33, are inserted as response information 60c into the response information ad 50c to generate the ad (step S34). Steps S31 to S34 complete the ad generation process. The generated response information ad 50c is identified in step S13 as an ad to be displayed on user terminal 2 and is sent to the first user's user terminal 2.

[0057] By operating the user terminal 2, the user can click on hyperlinks provided in the displayed advertisement (text or image), and on characters or images located near the advertisement (text, image, or video). It is preferable that hyperlinks located near the advertisement are displayed in a manner that allows the user to understand that they are hyperlinks related to the advertisement.

[0058] Figure 8 is a flowchart of the additional information display process according to the embodiment. The user can click on a hyperlink provided in the displayed ad with a question 50b or ad with answer information 50c by operating the user terminal 2 (step S41). The hyperlink may be provided in the image 57, or in text or images provided near the image 57 in the ad.

[0059] By clicking the hyperlink, the user terminal 2's display screen 40 transitions from the timeline and displays predetermined information (step S42). Specifically, the user terminal 2 can display additional information about the advertised product, service, or business, information for purchasing the advertised product, information for using the advertised service, or information for purchasing products offered by the advertised business, or information for using services offered by the business. Steps S41 to S42 complete the additional information display process.

[0060] In this embodiment, we have mainly described a case in which, in an advertisement 50c with answer information about a product, service, or business, information regarding the answer to an advertisement 50b with a question about that product, service, or business is displayed along with the advertisement. However, instead of the answer to the question attached to the advertisement, information regarding the feelings or opinions of a second or third user, based on information about the feelings or opinions of a second or third user towards the product, service, or business that is the subject of the advertisement, may be displayed on the first user's terminal. For example, this information regarding the feelings or opinions of a second or third user can be displayed on the first user's timeline along with the advertisement for the product, service, or business.

[0061] Information indicating the feelings or opinions of a second or third user can be obtained, for example, by providing selectable buttons (e.g., "Like" or "Spoil") alongside the advertisement. The selection of these "Like" or "Spoil" buttons constitutes information indicating positive feelings or opinions. The input form used to collect feelings or opinions of a second or third user towards a product, service, or business is not particularly limited and may be a selection-based form or a text-based form.

[0062] According to this embodiment, the user terminal can display, along with advertisements for products, services, or businesses, information regarding answers to questions about products, services, or businesses from other users stored in association with the user, or information regarding the feelings or opinions of those other users towards the products, services, or businesses. This makes it easier to achieve a high advertising effect.

[0063] According to this embodiment, the user terminal can display, along with advertisements for products, services, or businesses, information regarding answers to questions about products, services, or businesses from other users who follow the user, or information regarding the feelings or opinions of those other users towards the products, services, or businesses.

[0064] According to this embodiment, the user terminal can display, along with advertisements for products, services, or businesses, information regarding answers to questions about products, services, or businesses from other users that the user follows, or information regarding the feelings or opinions of those other users towards the products, services, or businesses.

[0065] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, answers to questions about products, services, or businesses can be obtained online from other users stored in association with the user (for example, other users followed by the user, or other users who follow the user), and information regarding the answers to questions by other users can be displayed on the user's terminal along with advertisements for products, services, or businesses. According to this embodiment, sentiments or opinions about products, services, or businesses can be obtained online from other users stored in association with the user, and information regarding the sentiments or opinions of other users can be displayed on the user's terminal along with advertisements for products, services, or businesses.

[0066] According to this embodiment, an input form for entering answers to questions about products, services, or businesses, or feelings or opinions about products, services, or businesses, is displayed on the timeline of another user's terminal operated by another user and stored in association with the user, and answers to questions about products, services, or businesses, or feelings or opinions about products, services, or businesses, can be obtained online from other users.

[0067] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the user terminal can display information regarding positive responses to products, services, or businesses as information regarding responses to questions about products, services, or businesses by other users stored in association with the user, along with advertisements. Additionally, the user terminal can display the number of other users who have given positive responses to products, services, or businesses as information regarding responses to questions about products, services, or businesses by other users stored in association with the user, along with advertisements.

[0068] According to this embodiment, the user terminal can display information regarding positive feelings or opinions towards a product, service, or business, as information regarding the feelings or opinions of other users towards the product, service, or business, stored in association with the user, along with advertisements. Furthermore, the user terminal can display the number of other users who have expressed positive feelings or opinions towards a product, service, or business, as information regarding the feelings or opinions of other users towards the product, service, or business, stored in association with the user, along with advertisements.

[0069] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the user terminal's timeline can display advertisements for products, services, or businesses, along with information about answers to questions about products, services, or businesses from other users that are stored in association with the user, or information about other users' feelings or opinions towards products, services, or businesses.

[0070] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by operating the user terminal and selecting a displayed advertisement or a hyperlink provided near the advertisement, the user terminal can display additional information about a product, service, or business, display information for purchasing a product or using a service, or display information for purchasing a product offered by a business or using a service offered by a business. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1 System 2 User terminals 3 Server equipment 4. Communication Network 21 Control Unit 22 RAM 23 Storage Section 24 Input section 25 Display section 26 Communication Interfaces 31 Control Unit 32 RAM 33 Storage Section 34 Communication Interfaces

Claims

1. A system comprising at least one computer device, A storage means for storing information in association with a first user and other users, An advertising display means that controls the display of information regarding other users' answers to questions about a product, service, or business, along with an advertisement for a product, service, or business, on a first user terminal operated by the first user. A system equipped with these features.

2. In a storage means, when a first user is stored in association with a second user, a display control means controls the display of posts by the second user on a screen that displays posts by multiple users on the first user terminal. Equipped with, The means of displaying advertisements are The system according to claim 1, wherein the first user terminal is controlled to display information regarding the second user's answers to questions about a product, service, or business, along with an advertisement for the product, service, or business.

3. In a storage means, when a third user is stored in association with a first user, a display control means controls the display of posts by the first user on a screen that displays posts by multiple users on the third user terminal. Equipped with, The means of displaying advertisements are The system according to claim 1, which controls the display of information regarding a third user's response to a question about a product, service, or business, along with an advertisement for a product, service, or business, on a first user terminal operated by the first user.

4. A means of obtaining answers from other users to questions about products, services, or businesses, from other users' terminals operated by other users. Equipped with, The means of displaying advertisements are The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which controls the display of information regarding other users' answers to questions about products, services, or businesses, along with the advertisement, based on the answers obtained.

5. A second display control means controls the display of answers to questions about products, services, or businesses on a screen that shows posts made by multiple users on other user terminals. Equipped with, The system according to claim 4, wherein the means for obtaining answers obtains inputs into an input form by operating another user's terminal as answers.

6. The means of displaying advertisements are The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which controls the display of information regarding positive responses to a product, service, or business as information regarding other users' responses to questions about a product, service, or business.

7. The means of displaying advertisements are The system according to claim 6, which controls the display of the number of other users who have given positive answers regarding a product, service, or business, as information regarding other users' answers to questions about a product, service, or business.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the advertising display means controls the display of the advertisement on a screen that displays posts by multiple users on a first user terminal.

9. When the first user terminal is using a social networking service, the advertising display means will appear on the timeline displayed on the first user terminal. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which controls the display of information regarding other users' answers to questions about a product, service, or business, along with advertisements for the product, service, or business.

10. By performing an operation on the first user terminal, selecting the displayed advertisement or a hyperlink located near the advertisement, Control the first user terminal to display additional information about the product, service, or business. Control the display of information for purchasing products or for using services, or Control the display of information that allows users to purchase products offered by the business or to use services offered by the business. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

11. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the advertising display means is controlled to display information relating to other users' answers to questions about products, services, or businesses, along with advertisements posted by advertisers through operations on advertiser terminals operated by advertisers.

12. A method performed in a system comprising at least one computer device, A memory step that associates and remembers the first user with other users, An advertising display step that controls the display of information related to the answers of other users to questions about a product, service, or business, along with an advertisement related to a product, service, or business, on a first user terminal operated by the first user. A method having.

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