Patent ID: 6910034
Filing Date: 2005-06-21
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A search apparatus which searches for a first user capable of answering an inquiry from a second user from users of a plurality of terminal apparatuses connected to a network, the apparatus comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive the inquiry and a search condition; a memory which stores shared documents prepared by the users of the plurality of terminal apparatuses respectively and profile information of the users; a search unit configured to search a shared document related to the inquiry and one of the profile information which matches the search condition from the memory and to extract a third user who have prepared the searched shared document and a fourth user corresponding to the searched profile information from the users of the plurality of terminal apparatuses; a calculator which calculates a degree of communication between the third and fourth users and the user who has made the inquiry based on a history of communication using the network; a selection unit configured to select a user who can answer the inquiry as the first user from the third and fourth users based on the degree of communication with the second user; and a presentation unit configured to present the first user to second the user.