SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY COLLECTING OPINIONS

Abstract

A database-based system is provided for performing an opinion collecting service that provides information necessary for deciding and presenting opinions of users and collecting information containing the opinions of the users. The system consists of a server, a plurality of user terminals connected to the server over a network, and a database configured to store information containing the opinions of the users. The database for the system is designed with three different phases: 1) conceptual design of a survey database; 2) logical/physical design for the survey database; and 3) construction of the survey database.

Claims

1. A system for performing an opinion collecting service that provides information necessary for deciding and presenting opinions of users and collecting information containing the opinions of the users, the system consisting of: a server; a plurality of user terminals connected to the server over a network; and a database configured to store information containing the opinions of the users; wherein the server is configured to: extract, classify, and organize conceptual design data required for collecting the opinions of the users into metadata items with a methodology using ontology; generate metadata description frames by using the metadata items indicating properties of data relating to the opinion collecting service using the ontology, and construct a database of the metadata description frames; extract a metadata description frame required for only an opinion collecting service requested by a manager from the database of the metadata description frames; generate a metadata frame containing the metadata items and having a user interface of a table type by converting the extracted metadata description frame, and providing the generated metadata frame to the manager; generate information contents by including actual data corresponding to the contained metadata items in the metadata frame having the user interface of the table type, wherein the metadata items contained in the metadata frame indicate properties of the actual data; distribute the information contents to the plurality of user terminals; receive reply contents containing opinions of users, in response to the information contents, from the plurality of user terminals; generate the metadata description frame by reversely converting a reply metadata frame being of the table type and contained in the received reply contents; database the generated metadata description frame; search for information in the databased metadata description frame; extract the opinions of the users contained in the reply contents; statistically process the extracted opinions of the users; and provide a result of the processing; and wherein the ontology is a system classifying the metadata items into hierarchical relationships and premise part relations, and is defined as word representation, wherein the extracting, classifying, and organizing of the conceptual design data are performed on the database design phase of the opinion collecting service server prior to providing the opinion collecting service, and wherein the server is further configured to: authenticate whether a rightful manager has accessed the server before performing the metadata frame generating step.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication is performed using at least one of ID/PW check, authentication using a certificate or a digital signature, verification using an authentication card, verification using a USB memory, and identification using biometric information, and the biometric information comprises at least one of a photo, voice, a fingerprint, and an iris.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the authentication is performed using the biometric information, and the biometric information is obtained through a device equipped or connected to the server.

Description

THE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for automatically collecting opinions according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0061] FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of an opinion collecting server of FIG. 1,

[0062] FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of an opinion inputting terminal of FIG. 1,

[0063] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for collecting electronic voting results and providing an election result according to another embodiment of the present invention,

[0064] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example of a candidate information metadata frame,

[0065] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example of candidate information contents,

[0066] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example of ballot paper contents,

[0067] FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example of reply contents generated in step S445 of FIG. 4,

[0068] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for collecting opinions using an electronic survey and providing a collected result according to another embodiment of the present invention,

[0069] FIG. 10 is a diagram of an example of a question metadata frame,

[0070] FIG. 11 is a diagram of an example of question contents,

[0071] FIG. 12 is a diagram of an example of response contents, and

[0072] FIG. 13 is a diagram of an example of the reply contents generated in step S945 of FIG. 9.

[0073] FIG. 14 is a diagram of an example of metadata extraction of an election voting service according to an ontology classification method,

[0074] FIG. 15 is a diagram of a metadata description frame according to RDF,

[0075] FIG. 16 is a diagram of a metadata description frame according to XML,

[0076] FIG. 17 is a diagram of a metadata description frame according to a relational data model,

[0077] FIG. 18 is a diagram of an example of metadata extraction of the opinion poll service according to the ontology classification method,

[0078] FIG. 19 is a diagram of a metadata description frame according to the RDF,

[0079] FIG. 20 is a diagram of a metadata description frame according to the XML,

[0080] FIG. 21 is a diagram of a metadata description frame according to the relational data model, and

[0081] FIG. 22 is a diagram of an example for reversely converting the reply contents of a table type to the metadata description frame.

[0082] FIG. 23 is a diagram of a system for automatically collecting opinions based on a spread sheet as its file system.

[0083] FIG. 24 is another diagram of a system for automatically collecting opinions according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0084] FIG. 25 is a diagram of three different phases of a database data model according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] FIG. 26 is a diagram of a database-based system for automatically collecting opinions according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a combination of a survey information retrieval system and a survey monitoring system.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0086] Hereinafter, the present invention is explained in detail by referring to the drawings.

[0087] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for automatically collecting opinions according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system for automatically collecting opinions is a system capable of automatically collecting opinions of multiple people and compiling statistics with the collected opinions.

[0088] FIG. 24 is another diagram of a system for automatically collecting opinions according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that instead of using a file system as shown in FIG. 23, FIG. 24 shows that the system uses a database system for storing and collecting user opinions. Here, the database is provided independently from the opinion collecting server 100.

[0089] A representative example of the opinion can include 1) a voting which is the opinion for selecting a particular candidate in an election, 2) opinions of people for a particular agenda, and the like.

[0090] Hence, the system for automatically collecting opinions according to embodiments of the present invention can provide 1) a solution for providing an election result by collecting/counting voting results of voters and 2) a solution for researching and collecting opinions of people and then providing statistically processed results.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 1, the system for automatically collecting opinions according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an opinion collecting server 100 and opinion inputting terminals 200-1 through 200-N.

[0092] The opinion collecting server 100 is connected with the opinion inputting terminals 200-1 through 200-N to communicate over a network (N). A type of the network N for interconnecting the opinion collecting server 100 and the opinion inputting terminals 200-1 through 200-N are not limited, and can be implemented using an adequate network if necessary.

[0093] For example, when the system for automatically collecting opinions according to an embodiment of the present invention is utilized as a system for collecting opinions of employees in a company, the network N can use a LAN. However, when the system for automatically collecting opinions according to an embodiment of the present invention is utilized as a system for collecting voting results in a nationwide election, the network N needs to use a WAN, a mobile communication network, a PSTN, or a combination of some of them.

[0094] Also, how the opinion collecting server 100 and the opinion inputting terminals 200-1 through 200-N are connected to the network N is not limited. They can be connected to the network N by wire or by wireless, and a communication protocol is not limited either.

[0095] In the system for automatically collecting opinions according to an embodiment, the opinion collecting server 100 inquires of the opinion inputting terminals 200-1 through 200-N about the opinion of a user.

[0096] When the opinion inputting terminals 200-1 through 200-N send opinions of users to the opinion collecting server 100 in reply to the inquiry, the opinion collecting server 100 compiles statistics with the received opinions of the users and provides the result.

[0097] Hereafter, the opinion collecting server 100 and the opinion inputting terminals 200-1 through 200-N of FIG. 1 are described in further detail, and the opinion collecting server 100 is explained first by referring to FIG. 2.

MODE OF THE INVENTION

[0098] FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the opinion collecting server 100 of FIG. 1. Blocks constituting the opinion collecting server 100 as shown can be implemented using S/W and H/W. Also, some of the blocks constituting the opinion collecting server 100 can be implemented using S/W and the remaining blocks can be implemented using H/W.

[0099] The opinion collecting server 100, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a metadata extraction unit 105 and a metadata description frame generator 110 on the side of a system service provider, a manager authentication unit 115, a service selector 120, a metadata frame converter 125, a metadata description frame DB 135, a content generator 140, a content distributor 145, a distributed site DB 150, a reply content receiver 155, a metadata frame reverse converter 160, a reply information DB 165, a statistics compiler 170, a statistics compiling S/W 175, a result processor 180, a real-time monitor 185, and an information searcher 190 on the side of a manager.

[0100] The metadata extraction unit 105 and the metadata description frame generator 110 are a preprocessor to be installed prior to a self system service which furnishes the opinion collecting system service. Originally, metadata indicates data relating to the information. In embodiments of the present invention, the metadata indicates data to be contained in contents necessary for the opinion collecting service, and metadata items indicate metadata property, category, type, and value.

[0101] The metadata extraction unit 105 extracts, classifies, and organizes the metadata items required for the automatic opinion collecting service provided by the system for automatically collecting opinions as mentioned above. The metadata items are extracted, classified, and arranged with a methodology using ontology, which shall be explained later.

[0102] The ontology in the present invention is a system classifying the metadata items required for the service into hierarchical relationships and premise part relations, and is defined as word representation, which becomes the metadata items of the service (see FIG. 14 and FIG. 18).

[0103] The metadata description frame generator 110 generates the metadata items relating to the opinion collecting service extracted by the metadata extraction unit 105 using the ontology scheme, as a metadata description frame.

[0104] At this time, a metadata description frame scheme can employ at least one of 1) a description method according to Resource Description Framework (RDF), 2) a description method according to eXtensible Hyper Text Markup Language (XHTML) or eXtensible Markup Language (XML), 3) a description method according to a data model of the database, and 4) a description method according to spread sheet.

[0105] A metadata description frame structure is necessary to enhance efficiency of the automatic opinion collecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and directly involves enhancement of a user interface and easiness of information search.

[0106] The metadata description method according to the RDF representation describes the frame of the metadata in a graphical structure by combining basic description units of the metadata into three elements of resource, property, and value.

[0107] The metadata description method according to the XHTM or XML representation describes the metadata frame in a tree structure with structural element type, class property, and IDentification (ID) property of the metadata.

[0108] Meanwhile, the metadata description method according to the data model representation of the database can describe the metadata frame with the data model scheme of the database, that is, with a hierarchical data model, a network data model, a relational data model, and an object-oriented data model.

[0109] A data processing system of the spread sheet type such as excel of Microsoft may be used.

[0110] Advantages of the metadata frame description methods according to the RDF, XHTML, and XML representations include high compatibility and high congeniality with semantic web technology which is studied as a next-generation web technology. Meanwhile, the metadata frame description methods according to the database data model and the spread sheet can be mounted using existing stabilized theory techniques and tools.

[0111] The metadata description frame generator 110 generates a metadata description frame with the metadata defined by a definition unit of the metadata in the above-described manner, and stores it to the metadata description frame DB 135. The voting service and the opinion collecting service in the automatic opinion collecting system as above shall be explained in detail by referring to FIGS. 14 through 21.

[0112] The manager authentication unit 115 authenticates whether a rightful manager accesses the opinion collecting server 100. Herein, the rightful manager indicates a manager who manages and takes charge of the opinion collection via the opinion collecting server 100 or a manager of the corresponding authority in an institution which manages and takes charge of the opinion collection via the opinion collecting server 100.

[0113] When the opinion collecting server 100 is a server for collecting voting results, the rightful manager indicates the person in charge of the election administration, or the person belonging to the institution in charge of the election administration and given the authority.

[0114] When the opinion collecting server 100 is a server for collecting opinions, the rightful manager indicates the person authorized to survey opinions, or the person in charge of the corresponding task in an institution authorized to survey opinions.

[0115] Herein, the authentication procedure can be performed in various manners. For example, the authentication procedure can be carried out by 1) checking ID/PW, 2) authenticating through a certificate or a digital signature, 3) verifying using an authentication card, USB memory, and the like, and 4) identifying using biometric information (for example, face photo, voice, fingerprint, iris, etc.).

[0116] At this time, a) the face photo can be obtained through a PC camera (not shown) of the opinion collecting server 100, b) the voice can be obtained through a microphone (not shown) of the opinion collecting server 100, c) the fingerprint can be obtained through a fingerprint reader (not shown) connected to the opinion collecting server 100, and d) the iris can be obtained through an iris scanner (not shown) connected to the opinion collecting server 100.

[0117] The service selector 120 provides a manager interface for selecting any one of opinion collecting services supplied by the opinion collecting server 100. This is useful when the opinion collecting server 100 provides several opinion collecting services.

[0118] As stated above, the opinion collecting services provided by the opinion collecting server 100 can be classified into a voting result collecting service (electronic voting service) and an opinion collecting service (electronic survey service). Accordingly, the service selector 120 provides the manager interface for selecting any one of the electronic voting service and the electronic survey service.

[0119] The manager can select an intended service through the manager interface. At this time, it is understood that the manager is who verified as the rightful manger by the manager authentication unit 115.

[0120] The metadata description frame DB 135 stores metadata description frames. Meanwhile, contents required for the opinion collecting service are 1) opinion determining contents and 2) opinion inputting contents.

[0121] Herein, 1) the opinion determining contents are contents containing information to be referred to before the users make a decision, and 2) the opinion inputting contents are contents used for the users to input the determined opinion after making the decision.

[0122] The metadata frame converter 125 generates a metadata frame by converting the metadata description frame defined and described in the RDF, XHTML, database, data model, or spread sheet representation in the metadata description frame DB 135, to a table type which is the user interface form so that the manager or the user can easily obtain and use. The metadata frame converter 125 stores (databases) the generated metadata frame to the metadata description frame DB 135.

[0123] For doing so, the metadata frame converter 125 extracts necessary metadata description frames from the metadata description frames stored to the metadata description frame DB 135.

[0124] Herein, the necessary metadata description frames are 1) metadata description frames for metadata items to be contained in the opinion determining contents and 2) metadata description frames for metadata items to be contained in the opinion inputting contents, for the opinion collecting service selected by the service selector 120.

[0125] Thus, when extracting the metadata description frame, the metadata frame converter 125 refers to which opinion collecting service is selected by the user through the service selector 120. For example, when the user selects the electronic voting service through the service selector 120, the metadata frame converter 125 extracts the metadata description frames required for the electronic voting service. By contrast, when the user selects the electronic survey service through the service selector 120, the metadata frame converter 125 extracts the metadata description frames required for the electronic survey service.

[0126] The metadata frame converter 125 generates the metadata frame of the table type by converting the extracted metadata description frame. More specifically, the metadata frame converter 125 generates the metadata frame of the table type including metadata items corresponding to the extracted metadata description frame.

[0127] In result, the metadata frame converter 125 generates 1) the opining determining metadata frame including the metadata items for the opinion determining contents and 2) the opinion inputting metadata frame including the metadata items for the opinion inputting contents.

[0128] The content generator 140 includes actual metadata corresponding to the metadata items contained in the metadata frame generated by the metadata frame converter 125. That is, the contents can indicate the metadata frame including the actual metadata.

[0129] The contents generated by the content generator 140 are the opinion determining contents and the opinion inputting contents.

[0130] The content distributor 145 distributes the opinion determining contents and the opinion inputting contents generated by the content generator 140, only to the corresponding persons of the user terminals 200-1 through 200-N.

[0131] To distribute only to the corresponding persons of the user terminals 200-1 through 200-N, the content distributor 145 refers to the distributed site DB 150. This is because the distributed site DB 150 includes addresses of users for the opining collection.

[0132] Herein, the address of the user indicates a mobile phone number, an IP address, and an E-mail address of the user. The mobile phone number is appropriate when the user terminal is a mobile phone, the IP address is appropriate when the user terminal is a PC and the E-mail address is appropriate when the user terminal is either.

[0133] The user terminal receiving the distributed contents from the content distributor 145 transmits reply contents in response, which is to be explained. The reply contents include the opinion of the user of the user terminal.

[0134] Then, the reply content receiver 155 of the opinion collecting server 100 of FIG. 2 receives the reply contents transmitted by the user terminal.

[0135] The metadata frame reverse converter 160 reversely converts the reply metadata frame of the table type contained in the reply contents received by the reply content receiver 155, to the metadata description frame of the RDF, XHTML, database model, or spread sheet form, and thus generates the metadata description frame. The metadata frame reverse converter 160 stores (databases) the metadata description frame to the reply information DB 165 and also sends it to the real-time monitor 185.

[0136] Meanwhile, the statistics compiler 170 extracts the user's opinion contained in the reply contents received by the reply content receiver 155, compiles the statistics by analyzing the extracted opinion, and then stores the result to the reply information DB 165. At this time, the statistics compiler 170 uses the statistics compiling S/W.

[0137] The result processor 180 generates the statistics compiling result of the statistics compiler 170 as visual information.

[0138] The real-time monitor 185 processes the reception count state of the reply content receiver 155 as visual information and provides the visual information to the manager in real time. Also, the real-time monitor 185 provides the visual information of the statistics compiling result generated by the result processor 180 to the manager.

[0139] Also, the real-time monitor 185 can send a reply request message to user terminals which do not send the reply contents. In so doing, the message can include a total reply rate and a period for reply.

[0140] Meanwhile, the transmission/contents of the message can vary according to whether the distributed contents are received. For example, it is possible to send the reply request message only to the user terminal which receives and confirms the contents but does not send the reply contents, and not to send the reply request message to the user terminal which does not receive the contents. This is because the probability of the reply is high when the reply is demanded in the former case.

[0141] The information searcher 190 functions to search the metadata item and the metadata which are the information contained in the metadata frame, for example, to search candidate corresponding to candidate, affiliated party, and 00 party, or search a search term meeting a certain condition such as candidate won 00 election.

[0142] So far, the opinion collecting server 100 of FIG. 2 has been described in detail. Hereafter, the opinion inputting terminals 200-1 through 200-N of FIG. 1 are elucidated by referring to FIG. 3.

[0143] Since the opinion inputting terminals 200-1 through 200-N can be implemented in the same structure, the single opinion inputting terminal is solely illustrated in FIG. 3 and represented by a reference numeral 200.

[0144] FIG. 25 shows three different phases of a database data model of the present invention. The first phase is to design a concept of a particular survey database. The first phase includes steps of extracting, classifying, and organizing conceptual design data required for collecting the opinions of the users into vocabulary data as metadata items. The second phase is to design the survey database logically and physically. The second phase includes steps of generating metadata description frames by using the metadata items indicating properties of data relating to the opinion collecting service and constructing a database of the metadata description frames. Finally, the third phase is to construct the survey database. The third phase includes steps of databasing the generated metadata description frame.

[0145] FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the opinion inputting terminal 200. Blocks constituting the opinion inputting terminal 200 as shown can be implemented using S/W and H/W. Also, some of the blocks constituting the opinion inputting terminal 200 can be implemented using S/W and the remaining blocks can be implemented using H/W.

[0146] The opinion inputting terminal 200, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a content receiver 210, a content reader 220, an opinion input unit 230, a reply content generator 240, a user authenticator 250, and a reply content transmitter 260.

[0147] The content receiver 210 receives the contents distributed by the content distributor 145 of the aforementioned opinion collecting server 100. Since the contents distributed by the content distributor 145 are the opinion determining contents and the opinion inputting contents, the contents received by the content receiver 210 are also the opinion determining contents and the opinion inputting contents.

[0148] The content reader 220 processes to display the opinion determining contents received by the content receive 210 in a display so that the user can read them.

[0149] The opinion input unit 230 processes to convert the opinion inputting contents received by the content receiver 210 to a user interface through which the user can input his/her opinion as reading and to show it in the display.

[0150] Hence, the user can input his/her opinion using the opinion inputting contents. The opinion input unit 230 forwards the user's opinion input through the opinion inputting contents to the reply content generator 240.

[0151] The reply content generator 240 generates the opinion inputting contents including the user's opinion received via the opinion input unit 230, as the reply contents.

[0152] The user authenticator 250 authenticates whether the user who inputs the opinion is the rightful user. Herein, the rightful user indicates the person who has the right or the authority to input the opinion through the opinion inputting terminal 200.

[0153] When the opinion collecting service is the electronic voting service, the rightful user is the voter who has the right to vote. When the opinion collecting service is the electronic survey service, the rightful user indicates the person belonging to the sample to survey or the person having the voting right.

[0154] At this time, the authentication procedure can be performed using various methods as in the manager authentication unit 115 of the opinion collecting server 100 as stated above.

[0155] Accordingly, the authentication procedure can be carried out by 1) checking JD/PW, 2) authenticating with a certificate or a digital signature, 3) verifying using an authentication card, USB memory, and the like, and 4) identifying using biometric information (for example, face photo, voice, fingerprint, iris, etc.).

[0156] At this time, a) the face photo can be obtained through a PC camera (not shown) of the opinion inputting terminal 200, b) the voice can be obtained through a microphone (not shown) of the opinion inputting terminal 200, c) the fingerprint can be obtained through a fingerprint reader (not shown) connected to the opinion inputting terminal 200, and d) the iris can be obtained through an iris scanner (not shown) connected to the opinion inputting terminal 200.

[0157] When the user authenticator 250 verifies the rightful user, the reply content transmitter 260 sends the reply contents generated by the reply content generator 240 to the reply content receiver 155 of the aforementioned opinion collecting server 100.

[0158] Hereafter, a process for collecting the voting result by conducting the electronic voting through the automatic opinion collecting system of FIG. 1 is explained in detail by referring to FIG. 4.

[0159] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for collecting the electronic voting result and providing the election result according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0160] In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the steps shown in the left side are performed by the opinion collecting server 100, and the steps shown in the right side are performed by the opinion inputting terminal 200.

[0161] As shown in FIG. 4, the manager authentication unit 115 of the opinion collecting server 100 authenticates whether the person accessing the opinion collecting server 100 is the rightful manager (S405).

[0162] When the rightful manager is authenticated in the step S405 and the manager selects the electronic voting service through the manager interface provided by the service selector 120 (S41 0), the metadata frame converter 125 generates the candidate information metadata frame and the ballot paper metadata frame (S415).

[0163] Herein, a preferable candidate information metadata frame is a metadata frame of the table type including the metadata items relating to the candidate information contents, and an example of the candidate information metadata frame is shown in FIG. 5.

[0164] As shown in FIG. 5, the candidate information metadata frame includes, as the candidate information metadata items, vote title, manager, election date, symbol, name of candidate, age of candidate, party of candidate, academic records of candidate, career of candidate, and photo of candidate.

[0165] These metadata items correspond to properties of the information to be referred to by the user to determine the candidate. That is, the metadata items correspond to the properties of the necessary information for the opinion decision of the user who casts a vote, as explained earlier.

[0166] Meanwhile, the ballot paper metadata frame is the metadata frame including the metadata items required for the user to cast a vote.

[0167] Referring back to FIG. 4, after step S415, the content generator 140 generates the candidate information contents and the ballot paper contents by including the actual metadata corresponding to the metadata items contained in the metadata frame generated in step S415 (S420).

[0168] FIG. 6 depicts an example of the candidate information contents. The candidate information contents of FIG. 6 is generated by including information of the actual election and information of the actual candidate to the candidate information metadata frame of the table type of FIG. 6.

[0169] More specifically, the candidate information contents of FIG. 6 include 1) 8th parliamentary election as the actual metadata for the metadata item vote title, 2) parliamentary election management committee as the actual metadata for the metadata item manager, 3) April 7, 20 12 as the actual metadata for the metadata item election date, 4) No. 1 as the actual metadata for the metadata item symbol, 5) Lee Mong Yong as the actual metadata for the metadata item name of candidate, 6) 42 as the actual metadata for the metadata item age of candidate, 7) XX party as the actual metadata for the metadata item party of candidate, 8) graduated from Good Elementary School in 1985/graduated from Outstanding University with economics major in 1995/obtained master degree in Harvard University in U.S.A. in 2000 as the actual metadata for the metadata item academic records of candidate, 9) XX Electronics researcher/XX governor/Oth member of the National Assembly as the actual metadata for the metadata item career of candidate, and 1 0) a photo of the candidate as the actual metadata for the metadata item photo of candidate.

[0170] Meanwhile, FIG. 7 depicts an example of the ballot paper contents. As shown in FIG. 7, the ballot paper contents include the metadata items required for the voting and the actual metadata of the metadata items, and accordingly, it is noted that the ballot paper contents can function as the ballot paper.

[0171] The metadata items in the ballot paper contents of FIG. 7 are vote title, election date, symbol, name, and vote column. In the ballot paper contents, 1) the actual metadata for the metadata item vote title is 8th parliamentary election, 2) the actual metadata for the metadata item election date is April 7, 20 12, 3) the actual metadata for the metadata item symbol is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, and 4) the actual metadata for the metadata item name of candidate is Lee Mong Yong, Kim Cheal Soo, Lee Young Hee, Park Young Seok, Choi Jin Soo, Jung Sung Hoon, and Ha Dong Soo.

[0172] Meanwhile, the actual metadata for vote column is not recorded, which is recorded in step S445 according to the voting of the user input in step S440 to be explained.

[0173] Referring back to FIG. 4, after step S420, the content distributor 145 distributes the candidate information contents and the ballot paper contents generated in step S420 to the user terminal 200 (S425). As distributing in step S425, the content distributor 145 refers to the distributed site DB 150.

[0174] Then, the content receiver 210 of the opinion inputting terminal 200 receives the candidate information contents and the ballot paper contents distributed in step S425 (S430).

[0175] The content reader 220 shows the candidate information contents received in step S430 in the display so that the user can read them (S435).

[0176] The opinion input unit 230 processes to convert the ballot paper contents received in step S430 to the user interface through which the user can read to cast a vote, and to display in the display (S440).

[0177] Hence, the user can cast a vote for his/her intended candidate using the ballot paper contents.

[0178] Then, the reply content generator 240 generates the reply contents with the ballot paper contents including the candidate selected by the user in step S440 (S445).

[0179] An example of the reply contents generated in step S445 is shown in FIG. 8. The reply contents of FIG. 8 are the ballot paper contents including candidate No. 1 Lee Mong Yang.

[0180] Referring back to FIG. 4, after step S445, the user authenticator 250 authenticates whether the user voted in S440 is the rightful user (S450).

[0181] When the rightful user is confirmed in step S450 (S450-Y), the reply content transmitter 260 transmits the reply contents generated in step S445 to the reply content receiver 155 of the opinion collecting server 100 (S455).

[0182] Then, the reply content receiver 155 of the opinion collecting server 100 receives the reply contents transmitted in step S455 (S460).

[0183] The reply contents received in step S460 are stored to the reply information DB 165. Meanwhile, it is possible to send the reply contents received in step S460 to the real-time monitor 185 as well so that the real-time monitor 185 outputs the vote count state in real time.

[0184] The statistics compiler 170 extracts the user's voting result in the reply contents received in step S460, and compiles the statistics with the extracted voting result (S465).

[0185] Then, the result processor 180 generates the statistically compiled result of step S465 as the visual information, and the real-time monitor 185 displays the generated visual information in the display in real time and provides it to the manager in real time (S470).

[0186] Hereafter, a process for collecting opinions through the electronic survey using the automatic opinion collecting system of FIG. 1 is explained in detail by referring to FIG. 9.

[0187] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for collecting opinions using the electronic survey and providing the collection result according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0188] In the flowchart of FIG. 9, the steps shown in the left side are performed by the opinion collecting server 100, and the steps shown in the right side are performed by the opinion inputting terminal 200.

[0189] As shown in FIG. 9, the manager authentication unit 115 of the opinion collecting server 100 authenticates whether the person accessing the opinion collecting server 100 is the rightful manager (S905).

[0190] When the rightful manager is confirmed in step S905 (S905-Y) and the manager selects the electronic survey service through the manager interface provided by the service selector 120 (S910), the metadata frame converter 125 generates the question metadata frame and the response metadata frame (S915). At this time, the question can include at least one of a multiple-choice question and a short-answer question.

[0191] Herein, the question metadata frame is the metadata frame including the metadata items for the question contents, and FIG. 10 shows an example of the question metadata frame.

[0192] As shown in FIG. 10, the question metadata frame includes, as the question metadata items, title, manager question 1, question 2, . . . , respondent, and date of response.

[0193] The metadata items correspond to the properties of the information to refer to when the user determines the opinion and other basic information.

[0194] Meanwhile, the response metadata frame is the metadata frame including the metadata items required for the user to input the response to the question.

[0195] Referring back to FIG. 9, after step S915, the content generator 140 generates the question contents and the response contents by including actual metadata corresponding to the metadata items contained in the metadata frame generated in step S915 (S920).

[0196] FIG. 11 depicts an example of the question contents. The question contents in FIG. 11 are generated by including actual basic information and actual questions to the question metadata frame of FIG. 10.

[0197] Specifically, the question contents of FIG. 11 include 1) MT opinion survey as the actual metadata for the metadata item title, 2) student council as the actual metadata for the metadata item manager, 3) new term MT place . . . Mt. Mai as the actual metadata for the metadata item question 1, 4) MT date . . . April 15 as the actual metadata for the metadata item question2, 5) Lee Mong Yong as the actual metadata for the metadata item respondent, and 6) 20 12.0.0 as the actual metadata for the metadata item date of response.

[0198] Meanwhile, FIG. 12 depicts an example of the response contents. As shown in FIG. 12, the response contents include metadata items required for inputting responses for the questions and actual metadata of the metadata items. Hence, the response contents can function as a response collecting paper.

[0199] The metadata items in the response contents of FIG. 12 are title, date, question 1, question2, . . . In the response contents, 1) the actual metadata for the metadata item title is MT opinion survey, and 2) the actual metadata for the metadata item date is 2012.O.O.

[0200] Meanwhile, while the actual metadata for the metadata items question 1 and question2 are not included, they are included in step S945 according in step S945 to the response of the user input in step S940 to be explained.

[0201] Referring back to FIG. 9, after step S920, the content distributor 145 distributes the question contents and the response contents generated in step S920 to the user terminal 200 (S925). In the distribution of step S925, the content distributor 145 refers to the distributed site DB 150.

[0202] Then, the content receiver 210 of the opinion inputting terminal 200 receives the question contents and the response contents distributed in step S925.

[0203] The content reader 220 shows the question contents received m step S930 in the display so that the user can read them (S935).

[0204] The opinion inputting unit 230 converts the response contents received in step S930 to the user interface through which the user can input the response for the question while reading it, and processes to show it in the display (S940).

[0205] Hence, the user can input his/her intended response using the response contents.

[0206] Then, the reply content generator 240 generates the reply contents with the response contents including the response input by the user in step S940 (S945).

[0207] An example of the reply contents generated in step S945 is shown in FIG. 13. The reply contents of FIG. 13 are the response contents which input Mt. Songni in response to new term MT place . . . and April 15 in response to MT date . . . .

[0208] Referring back to FIG. 9, after step S945, the user authenticator 250 authenticates whether the user responding in step S940 is the rightful user (S950).

[0209] When confirming the rightful user in step S950, the reply content transmitter 260 transmits the reply contents generated in step S945 to the reply content receiver 155 of the opinion collecting server 100 (S955).

[0210] The reply content receiver 155 of the opinion collecting server 100 receives the reply contents transmitted in step S955 (S960).

[0211] The reply contents received in step S960 are stored to the reply information DB 165.

[0212] Meanwhile, it is possible to send the reply contents received in step S960 also to the real-time monitor 185 so that the real-time monitor 185 outputs the response count state in real time.

[0213] The statistics compiler 170 extracts the user's response in the reply contents received in step S960, and compiles the statistics with the extracted response (S965).

[0214] The result processor 180 generates the visual information with the statistically compiled result of step S965, and the real-time monitor 185 shows the generated visual information in the display in real time to provide to the manager in real time (S970).

[0215] The exemplary embodiments explained so far can be applied to the public opinion poll.

[0216] The opinion inputting terminal 200 in the exemplary embodiments can be implemented using the PC and portable communication equipment such as mobile phone or PDA.

[0217] Meanwhile, the order of the manager authenticating step S405 and the user authenticating step S450 in FIG. 4 can be realized differently. For example, the manager authenticating step S405 can be performed any time before step S425, and the user authenticating step S450 can be performed before step S435 as well.

[0218] This also applies to the manager authenticating step S905 and the user authenticating step S950 in FIG. 9.

[0219] Hereafter, the necessary functions of the automatic opinion collecting system provider of the present invention before the service provision, that is, the functions of the metadata extraction unit 105 and the metadata description frame generator 110 of FIG. 2 are elucidated.

[0220] FIG. 14 depicts an example of the election voting ontology classification as the method for databasing the item relating to the electronic voting in the automatic opinion collecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 14, the properties of the resource election voting include presidential election, election for member of the National Assembly, and so on, the resource election for member of the National Assembly includes the properties manager, election title, election date, and so on, which contain (input) instance. SubClassOF in FIG. 14 is the expression indicating subsumption relation that the higher subsumes the lower.

[0221] FIG. 15 depicts the relations between the elements of the election voting related metadata of FIG. 14 described and expressed using the RDF. In FIG. 15, the graph is drawn with three elements of the resource, the property, and the value.

[0222] FIG. 16 redescribes and reexpresses the metadata election voting described and expressed using the RDF in FIG. 14, using the XML. FIG. 17 is a diagram of the metadata frame according to the relational data model of the database. The metadata frame according to the spread sheet type can be described similarly to the relation data model.

[0223] FIG. 18 is a diagram of the metadata items according to the ontology representation for defining and extracting the metadata for public opinion poll execution in the automatic opinion collecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0224] FIG. 19 is a diagram of the metadata frame according to the ontology representation with the RDF, and FIG. 20 is a diagram of the metadata frame according to the ontology representation with the XML. FIG. 21 is a diagram of a metadata frame according to the ontology representation with the relational data model.

[0225] FIG. 22 is a diagram of an example for reversely converting the reply contents of the table type to the metadata description frame. This is the function of the metadata frame reverse converter 160 and corresponds to the reply contents of FIG. 8 described using the XML which is one of the metadata description frame representations.

[0226] For reference, ex in the aforementioned drawings is a prefix indicating the metadata, and is hypothetical.

[0227] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.