Information gathering method and system

An information-gathering device for holding dialogues with customers based on dialogue scenarios, the information-gathering device including:

• scenario storage means for assigning correspondences between and storing dialogue scenarios, and send-destination addresses for content of dialogues performed following the dialogue scenarios;
• extraction means for extracting from the stored dialogue scenarios a dialogue scenario to be performed;
• dialogue means for holding a dialogue with a customer following the dialogue scenario and for acquiring content of the dialogue;
• and
• information transmission means for transmitting the dialogue content to the send-destination address corresponding to the dialogue scenario.

A computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded an information-gathering program utilized in an information-gathering device for holding dialogues with customers based on dialogue scenarios, the computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded an information-gathering program executing:

• a scenario-storing step of assigning correspondences between, and storing, dialogue scenarios, and send-destination addresses for content of dialogues performed following the dialogue scenarios;
• an extraction step of extracting from the stored dialogue scenarios a dialogue scenario to be performed;
• a dialogue step of holding a dialogue with a customer following the dialogue scenario and acquiring content of the dialogue;
• and
• an information transmission step of transmitting the dialogue content to the send-destination address corresponding to the dialogue scenario.

An information-gathering program for enabling a computer to hold dialogues with customers based on dialogue scenarios, the information-gathering program for enabling a computer to function as:

• scenario storage means for assigning correspondences between and storing dialogue scenarios, and send-destination addresses for content of dialogues performed following the dialogue scenarios;
• extraction means for extracting from the stored dialogue scenarios a dialogue scenario to be performed;
• dialogue means for holding a dialogue with a customer following the dialogue scenario and for acquiring content of the dialogue;
• and
• information transmission means for transmitting the dialogue content to the send-destination address corresponding to the dialogue scenario.

An information-gathering method employed in an information-gathering system for holding dialogues with customers based on dialogue scenarios, the information-gathering method comprising:

• a scenario-storing step of storing dialogue scenarios;
• an extraction step of extracting from the dialogue scenarios a dialogue scenario to be performed;
• a dialogue step of holding a dialogue with a customer following the dialogue scenario and acquiring content of the dialogue;
• a first dialogue-storing step of storing the acquired dialogue content;
• a sending-preferences designation step of accepting designation of sending preferences, and send-destination addresses, for the stored dialogue content;
• a sending-preferences storage step of assigning correspondences between and storing the send-destination addresses and the sending preferences;
• a transmission step of extracting from the stored dialogue content and transmitting to the send-destination addresses dialogue substance matching the sending preferences;
• a second dialogue-storing step of storing the transmitted dialogue substance;
• and
• an output step of outputting the dialogue substance stored in said second dialogue-storing step.

An information-gathering device for holding dialogues with customers based on dialogue scenarios concerning merchandise, connected via a network with computer terminals for providers of the merchandise, the information-gathering device comprising:

• scenario storage means for storing dialogue scenarios;
• extraction means for extracting from the dialogue scenarios a dialogue scenario to be performed;
• dialogue means for holding a dialogue with a customer following the dialogue scenario and for acquiring content of the dialogue;
• dialogue storage means for storing the acquired dialogue content;
• sending-preferences acceptance means for accepting from the computer terminals designation of sending preferences, and send-destination addresses, for the stored dialogue content;
• sending-preferences storage means for assigning correspondences between and storing the send-destination addresses and the sending preferences;
• and
• dialogue transmission means for extracting from the stored dialogue content and transmitting to the send-destination addresses dialogue substance matching the sending preferences.

A computer terminal connected via a network with dialogue devices for holding dialogues with customers based on dialogue scenarios concerning merchandise, the computer terminal including:

• sending-preferences designation means for accepting designation of sending preferences, and send-destination addresses, for dialogue content acquired through the dialogue scenarios;
• sending-preferences notification means for transmitting to the dialogue devices the designated sending preferences and send-destination addresses;
• gathering means for gathering from the dialogue devices dialogue content matching the sending preferences;
• dialogue storage means for storing dialogue content gathered by said gathering means;
• and
• output means for outputting the dialogue content stored by said dialogue storage means.