WO2017055911A1

WO2017055911A1 - Server, control method for server, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing control program for server

Info

Publication number: WO2017055911A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/001451
Authority: WO
Inventors: Atsushi Yamada; Ryota Kimura
Original assignee: Gurunavi, Inc.
Priority date: 2015-09-28
Filing date: 2016-09-28
Publication date: 2017-04-06

Abstract

A control method for a server including a storage unit that stores service providing information and rank information, the service providing information containing at least service contents that are provided by a plurality of facilities, the rank information being based on past usage histories of a plurality of users, includes: accepting service request information from a user terminal (2), the service request information containing at least a service content that the corresponding user desires; selecting a facility that meets the service request information on the basis of the service providing information; outputting at least the rank information of the user and a commission that is charged to the selected facility on the basis of the rank information of the user to a facility terminal (3) of the selected facility; outputting information regarding a facility that outputted a notification information through the facility terminal of the selected facility to the user terminal of the user when receiving the notification information; and accepting a reservation request information from the user terminal of the user for making a reservation of a facility which the user selected among the selected facility that has outputted the notification information.

Description

SERVER, CONTROL METHOD FOR SERVER, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING CONTROL PROGRAM

FOR SERVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a server, a control method for a server, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for a server.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] Conventionally, a service reservation system is utilized. With the service reservation system, an organizing user who holds an event is allowed to search for a service provider (for example, a restaurant, or the like) with the use of a personal computer, a mobile phone, or the like, which is connectable with the Internet, or the like, specify a date and time and service contents, and make a reservation for a predetermined service.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-99095 (JP

2012-099095 A) describes a party reservation support system that transmits a party requirement to shop terminals as the party reservation support system receives the party requirement from a user terminal, and that transmits a proposed party condition to the user terminal as the party reservation support system receives the proposed party condition from any one or more of the shop terminals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In the party reservation support system described in JP 2012-099095 A, there are a user who often makes a reservation for a shop and a user who rarely makes a reservation for a shop when the users have received a proposed party condition. Information regarding a user who has transmitted the party requirement is not transmitted to the shop terminals to which the party requirement has been transmitted, so a manager of each of the corresponding shops is not allowed to estimate what kind of person is a user who has transmitted the party requirement. For this reason, there is a possibility that the manager of each shop transmits a proposed party condition to only the user terminal of the user who rarely makes a reservation for the shop and, as a result, no reservation is made for the shop.

[0005] Generally, the service reservation system is able to acquire a commission from a shop for which a reservation has been made. Such a service reservation system is desired to acquire a larger amount of commission.

[0006] The invention provides a server with which a manager of a facility is allowed to estimate a user who is highly likely to utilize the facility, a control method for the server and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for the server.

[0007] The invention also provides a server that is able to appropriately determine a commission in response to user's actual usage in the past, a control method for the server, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for the server.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention provides a control method for a server including a storage unit that stores service providing information and rank information, the service providing information containing at least service contents that are provided by a plurality of facilities, the rank information being based on past usage histories of a plurality of users. The control method includes: accepting service request information from a user terminal, the service request information containing at least a service content that the corresponding user desires; selecting a facility that meets the service request information on the basis of the service providing information; outputting at least the rank information of the user and a commission that is charged to the selected facility on the basis of the rank information of the user to a facility terminal of the selected facility; outputting information regarding a facility that outputted a notification information through the facility terminal of the selected facility to the user terminal of the user when receiving the notification information; and accepting a reservation request information from the user terminal of the user for making a reservation of a facility which the user selected among the selected facility that has outputted the notification information. [0009] A second aspect of the invention provides a server. The server includes: storage unit that stores service providing information and rank information, the service providing information containing at least service contents that are provided by a plurality of facilities, the rank information being based on past usage histories of a plurality of users; an accepting unit that accepts service request information from a user terminal, the service request information containing at least a service content that the corresponding user desires; a selection unit that selects a facility that meets the service request information on the basis of the service providing information; an output unit that outputs at least the rank information of the user and a commission that is charged to the selected facility on the basis of the rank information of the user to a facility terminal of the selected facility and that outputs information regarding a facility that outputted a notification information through the facility terminal of the selected facility to the user terminal of the user when receiving the notification information from the facility terminal; and a management unit that accepts a reservation request information from the user terminal of the user for making a reservation of a facility which the user selected among the selected facility that has outputted the notification information.

[0010] A third aspect of the invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for a server, the server including a storage unit that stores service providing information and rank information, the service providing information containing at least service contents that are provided by a plurality of facilities, the rank information being based on past usage histories of a plurality of users. The control program causes the server to execute instructions for: accepting service request information from a user terminal, the service request information containing at least a service content that the corresponding user desires; selecting a facility that meets the service request information on the basis of the service providing information; outputting at least the rank information of the user and a commission that is charged to the selected facility on the basis of the rank information of the user to a facility terminal of the selected facility; outputting information regarding a facility that outputted a notification information through the facility terminal of the selected facility to the user terminal of the user when receiving the notification information; and accepting a reservation request information from the user terminal of the user for making a reservation of a facility which the user selected among the selected facility that has outputted the notification information.

[0011] With the server, the control method for the server and the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the control program for the server, a manager of a facility terminal is allowed to estimate a user who is highly likely to utilize the facility. Thus, a manager of a facility terminal can efficiently distinguish a user who is highly likely to utilize the facility, thereby reducing a server load by eliminating a redundant refining search or extra search.

[0012] With the server, the control method for the server and the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the control program for the server, it is possible to appropriately determine a commission in response to user's actual usage in the past. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view for illustrating a matching system;

FIG. 2 is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of the matching system;

FIG. 3A is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of each user terminal;

FIG 3B is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of each facility terminal;

FIG 4 is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of a server; FIG. 5A is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a user management table;

FIG 5B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a rank management table;

FIG. 5C is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a facility management table;

FIG. 6A is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a requirement management table;

FIG. 6B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a proposal management table;

FIG. 7 is a view that shows an example of an operation sequence of the matching system;

FIG. 8 is a view that shows an example of a page that is displayed on the user terminal;

FIG. 9A to FIG 9C are views that show examples of pages that are displayed on the facility terminal;

FIG. 10A to FIG. IOC are views that show examples of pages that are displayed on the user terminal;

FIG 11A is a view that shows an example of a page that is displayed on the facility terminal;

FIG 11 B is a view that shows an example of a page that is displayed on the facility terminal; and

FIG. l lC is a view that shows an example of a page that is displayed on the user terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the technical scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments and encompasses the invention recited in the appended clams and equivalents thereof.

[0015] FIG 1 is a schematic view for illustrating a matching system 1.

[0016] The matching system 1 includes a plurality of user terminals 2, a plurality of facility terminals 3, a server 4, and the like. The server 4 stores service providing information and rank information. The service providing information contains at least service contents that are provided by a plurality of facilities. The rank information is based on past usage histories of a plurality of users. Each piece of the rank information is a status that is determined on the basis of the number of times each user has made a reservation for a facility. Each piece of the rank information is classified into a plurality of ranks, such as a platinum rank and a silver rank lower than the platinum rank. In FIG. 1 , for the sake of convenience, only the user terminal 2 of one of the plurality of users and only the facility terminal 3 of one of the plurality of facilities are shown.

[0017] As an organizing user X inputs service request information to the user terminal 2, the user terminal 2 transmits the input service request information to the server 4 (1). The organizing user is a person in charge of holding an event that a plurality of users attend. The organizing user may be a user who has become a candidate for the organizing user or may be a user selected freely. The organizing user is an example of a user. The event means an entertainment or event that is held at a facility. The event is, for example, a company trip, a New Year party, a year-end party, a barbecue, a banquet, a social gathering, a class reunion, a golf competition, or the like. The service request information is information that contains at least service contents that the organizing user desires. The service contents, for example, include Yotsuya-sanchome station as a desired area and pasta as a desired food genre. The service contents may include any one of a desired area and a desired food, and may be any information that the organizing user desires.

[0018] Subsequently, as the server 4 accepts service request information from the user terminal 2, the server 4 selects a facility that meets the accepted service request information on the basis of the stored service providing information. That is, the server 4 selects a facility that provides a service that coincides with service contents contained in the accepted service request information.

[0019] Subsequently, the server 4 creates requirement list page information for displaying rank information 100 of the organizing user, service request information 101 that the organizing user desires, and a propose button 102, and transmits the created requirement list page information to the facility terminal 3 of the selected facility (2).

[0020] Subsequently, the facility terminal 3 displays a requirement list page on the basis of the requirement list page information received from the server 4. As the manager of the facility of the facility terminal 3 inputs proposal information for proposing a service to the organizing user by depressing the propose button 102, the facility terminal 3 transmits the proposal information to the server 4 (3).

[0021] Subsequently, as the server 4 receives the proposal information from the facility terminal 3, the server 4 outputs information regarding the selected facility to the user terminal 2 (4).

[0022] Subsequently, as the organizing user inputs reservation request information indicating that the organizing user makes a reservation for the selected facility, the user terminal 2 transmits the reservation request information to the server 4 (5).

[0023] Subsequently, as the server 4 accepts the reservation request information from the user terminal 2, the server 4 determines a commission that is charged to the selected facility on the basis of the rank information of the organizing user. The server 4 determines a commission such that a commission that is charged to the selected facility increases as the rank information is higher. For example, the server 4 determines a commission such that a commission in the case where reservation request information has been accepted from the user terminal 2 of an organizing user of which the rank information is platinum is higher than a commission in the case where reservation request information has been accepted from the user terminal 2 of an organizing user of which the rank information is silver.

[0024] Subsequently, the server 4 charges the determined commission to the facility terminal 3 of the selected facility (6).

[0025] In this way, the server 4 is able to appropriately determine a commission in response to the past usage history of a user. On the other hand, the manager of each facility is allowed to select a user of which the number of times the user has used the facility in the past is large from among organizing users who have requested a service on the basis of the rank information 100 of each of the organizing users displayed on the facility terminal 3. In addition, the manager of each facility is allowed to determine to propose a service for which service request information in consideration of the crowdedness of the facility at a date and time at which the service is provided and a commission that is determined in response to the rank of an organizing user.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of the matching system 1.

[0027] The matching system 1 includes the plurality of user terminals 2, the plurality of facility terminals 3, the server 4, and the like. The user terminals 2 and the server 4 are connected to each other via an access point (not shown) or a base station (not shown) and a communication network 5. The communication network 5 is, for example, the Internet. Each user terminal 2 and the server 4 carry out communication with each other by using a communication protocol, such as a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The facility terminals 3 and the server 4 are connected to each other via the communication network 5. Each facility terminal 3 and the server 4 carry out communication with each other by using a communication protocol, such as a hypertext transfer protocol.

[0028] FIG. 3A is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of each user terminal 2.

[0029] Each user terminal 2 includes a user terminal communication unit 21, a user terminal storage unit 22, a user terminal operation unit 23, a user terminal display unit 24, a user terminal processing unit 25, and the like. A multifunctional mobile phone (so-called smartphone) is assumed as each user terminal 2; however, each user terminal 2 is not limited to the multifunctional mobile phone. Each user terminal 2 may be, for example, a mobile phone (so-called feature phone), a mobile information terminal (personal digital assistant (PDA)), a tablet PC, a personal computer, or the like.

[0030] The user terminal communication unit 21 includes a communication interface circuit including an antenna having mainly a 2.4GHz band, a 5GHz band, or the like, as a sensitive band. The user terminal communication unit 21 carries out wireless communication with an access point on the basis of IEEE 802.11 wireless communication system. Alternatively, the user terminal communication unit 21 includes a communication interface circuit including an antenna having mainly a 2.1GHz band as a sensitive band. The user terminal communication unit 21 carries out wireless communication with a base station on the basis of CDMA system, or the like. The user terminal communication unit 21 connects the corresponding user terminal 2 to the communication network 5 via an access point or a base station. The user terminal communication unit 21 transmits, to the server 4, or the like, data supplied from the user terminal processing unit 25. The user terminal communication unit 21 supplies, to the user terminal processing unit 25, data received from the server 4, or the like.

[0031] The user terminal storage unit 22 includes, for example, at least any one of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk drive and an optical disk drive. The user terminal storage unit 22 stores an operating system program, a driver program, an application program, data, and the like, that are used for processing in the user terminal processing unit 25. For example, the user terminal storage unit 22 stores an input device driver program that controls the user terminal operation unit 23, an output device driver program that controls the user terminal display unit 24, and the like, as the driver program. The user terminal storage unit 22 stores a program, or the like, that executes transmission and reception of a message, as the application program. The user terminal storage unit 22 stores transmitted and received messages and associated data as the data. Furthermore, the user terminal storage unit 22 may temporarily store temporary data associated with predetermined processing.

[0032] The user terminal operation unit 23 may be any device as long as the user terminal 2 is operable by using the user terminal operation unit 23, and is, for example, a touch pad, or the like. The organizing user is allowed to input characters, numerics, and the like, with the use of the user terminal operation unit 23. As the user terminal operation unit 23 is operated by the organizing user, the user terminal operation unit 23 generates a signal corresponding to the operation. The generated signal is supplied to the user terminal processing unit 25 as a command from the organizing user.

[0033] The user terminal display unit 24 may be any device as long as the user terminal display unit 24 is able to display a character string, an image, and the like. The user terminal display unit 24 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display, or the like. The user terminal display unit 24 displays a transmitted or received message, or the like, supplied from the user terminal processing unit 25.

[0034] The user terminal processing unit 25 includes a user terminal access unit 251, a user terminal message management unit 252, and the like. The user terminal processing unit 25 is to generally control the overall operations of the user tenninal 2. The user terminal processing unit 25 consists of one or plurality of processors and their peripheral circuit (for example, central processing unit (CPU)). The user terminal processing unit 25 controls the operations of the user terminal communication unit 21, user terminal display unit 24, and the like, such that the programs stored in the user terminal storage unit 22 are executed in an appropriate procedure in response to, for example, operation of the user terminal operation unit 23. The user terminal processing unit 25 executes processing on the basis of the programs (the operating system program, the driver program, the application program, and the like) that are stored in the user terminal storage unit 22. The user terminal processing unit 25 is able to execute a plurality of programs (application programs, or the like) in parallel.

[0035] The user terminal access unit 251 and the user terminal message management unit 252 are functional modules that are implemented by programs that are executed by the processor(s) of the user terminal processing unit 25. Alternatively, the user terminal access unit 251 and the user terminal message management unit 252 may be implemented in the user terminal 2 as firmware.

[0036] The user terminal access unit 251 accesses the world wide web (web), and acquires and displays display data. That is, the user terminal access unit 251 accepts input of information regarding a facility and transmits the information regarding a facility to the server 4 via the user terminal communication unit 21 in response to a command from the organizing user. The user terminal access unit 251 receives display data for displaying processing results of the server 4 from the server 4 via the user terminal communication umt 21 , and displays a page on the user terminal display unit 24 on the basis of the received display data.

[0037] The user terminal message management unit 252 transmits or receives a message to or from the server 4 via the user terminal communication unit 21.

[0038] FIG 3B is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of each facility terminal 3.

[0039] Each facility terminal 3 includes a facility terminal commumcation unit 31, a facility terminal storage unit 32, a facility terminal operation unit 33, a facility terminal display unit 34, a facility terminal processing unit 35, and the like. Each facility terminal 3 is a terminal of a manager of a facility that provides a service. A personal computer is assumed as each facility terminal 3; however, each facility teraiinal 3 is not limited to the personal computer. Each facility terminal 3 may be, for example, a multifunctional mobile phone, a mobile phone, a mobile information terminal, a tablet PC, or the like.

[0040] The facility terminal commumcation unit 31 mainly includes a wired commumcation interface circuit. The facility terminal commumcation unit 31 connects the corresponding facility terminal 3 to the communication network 5 via a wire, such as a LAN cable. The facility terminal commumcation unit 31 transmits data, supplied from the facility terminal processing unit 35, to the server 4, or the like. The facility terminal communication unit 31 supplies data, received from the server 4, or the like, to the facility terminal processing unit 35.

[0041] The facility terminal storage unit 32 includes, for example, at least any one of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk drive and an optical disk drive. The facility terminal storage unit 32 stores an operating system program, a driver program, an application program, data, and the like, that are used for processing in the facility terminal processing unit 35. For example, the facility terminal storage unit 32 stores an input device driver program that controls the facility terminal operation unit 33, an output device driver program that controls the facility terminal display umt 34, and the like, as the driver program. The facility terminal storage unit 32 stores a program, or the like, that executes transmission and reception of a message, as the application program. The facility terminal storage unit 32 stores transmitted and received messages and associated data as the data. Furthermore, the facility terminal storage unit 32 may temporarily store temporary data associated with predetermined processing.

[0042] The facility terminal operation unit 33 may be any device as long as the facility terminal 3 is operable by using the facility terminal operation unit 33, and is, for example, a keyboard, or the like. The manager is allowed to input characters, numerics, and the like, with the use of the facility terminal operation unit 33. As the facility terminal operation unit 33 is operated by the manager, the facility terminal operation unit 33 generates a signal corresponding to the operation. The generated signal is supplied to the facility terminal processing unit 35 as a command of the manager.

[0043] The facility terminal display unit 34 may be any device as long as the facility terminal display unit 34 is able to display a character string, an image, and the like. The facility terminal display unit 34 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. The facility terminal display unit 34 displays a transmitted or received message, or the like, supplied from the facility terminal processing unit 35.

[0044] The facility terminal processing unit 35 includes a facility terminal access unit 351, a facility terminal message management unit 352, and the like. The facility terminal processing unit 35 is to generally control the overall operations of the corresponding facility terminal 3. The facility terminal processing unit 35 consists of one or plurality of processors and their peripheral circuit (for example, CPU). The facility terminal processing unit 35 controls the operations of the facility terminal communication unit 31, the facility terminal display unit 34, and the like, such that the programs stored in the facility terminal storage unit 32 are executed in an appropriate procedure in response to operation of the facility terminal operation unit 33, or the like. The facility terminal processing unit 35 executes processing on the basis of the programs (the operating system program, the driver program, the application program, and the like) that are stored in the facility tenriinal storage unit 32. The facility terminal processing unit 35 is able to execute a plurality of programs (application programs, or the like) in parallel. [0045] The facility terminal access unit 351 and the facility terminal message management unit 352 are functional modules that are implemented by programs that are executed by the processor(s) of the facility terminal processing unit 35. Alternatively, the facility terminal access unit 351 and the facility terminal message management unit 352 may be implemented in each facility tenriinal 3 as firmware.

[0046] The facility terminal access unit 351 accesses the web, and acquires and displays display data. That is, the facility terminal access unit 351 accepts information input regarding a service to be proposed and transmits the input information to the server 4 via the facility terminal communication unit 31 in response to a command from the manager. The facility terminal access unit 351 receives display data for displaying processing results of the server 4 from the server 4 via the facility terminal communication unit 31, and displays a page on the facility terminal display unit 34 on the basis of the received display data.

[0047] The facility terminal message management unit 352 transmits or receives a message to or from the server 4 via the facility terminal communication unit 31.

[0048] FIG 4 is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of the server 4.

[0049] The server 4 includes a server communication unit 41, a server storage unit 42 and a server processing unit 43. The server 4 consists of a standalone device. The server 4 may consist of a plurality of devices.

[0050] The server communication unit 41 includes a communication interface circuit for transmitting or receiving data via the communication network 5. The server communication unit 41 communicates with the user terminal 2 or the facility terminal 3.

[0051] The server storage unit 42 includes, for example, at least any one of a magnetic tape drive, a magnetic disk drive and an optical disk drive. The server storage unit 42 stores an operating system program, a driver program, an application program, data, and the like, that are used for processing in the server processing unit 43. Each of the programs may be installed from a computer-readable portable storage medium, such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM, into the server storage unit 42 with the use of a known setup program, or the like. The server storage unit 42 stores a user management table (FIG. 5A), a rank management table (FIG. 5B), a facility management table (FIG 5C), a requirement management table (FIG. 6A) and a proposal management table (FIG. 6B) as the data. Each table in the present embodiment is an example of the type of database, and may be of a type in which data are pooled inside the server 4. The server storage unit 42 further includes a buffer for temporarily storing temporary data regarding predetermined processing.

[0052] The server processing unit 43 includes an accepting unit 431 , a selection unit 432, an output unit 433, a determination unit 434, a management unit 435, and the like. The server processing unit 43 generally controls the overall operations of the server 4. The server processing unit 43 consists of one or plurality of processors and their peripheral circuit (for example, CPU). The server processing unit 43 controls the operations of the server communication unit 41, and the like, in an appropriate procedure on the basis of the programs (the operating system program, the driver program, the application program, and the like) that are stored in the server storage unit 42. In addition, the server processing unit 43 may execute a plurality of programs (application programs, or the like) in parallel.

[0053] The accepting unit 431, the selection unit 432, the output unit 433, the determination unit 434 and the management unit 435 are functional modules that are implemented by programs that are executed by the processor(s) of the server processing unit 43. The accepting unit 431 , the selection unit 432, the output unit 433, the determination unit 434 and the management unit 435 may be implemented in the server 4 as firmware.

[0054] The accepting unit 431 accepts service request information, containing at least service contents that an organizing user desires, from the corresponding user terminal 2. The details of processing of the accepting unit 431 will be described later.

[0055] The selection unit 432 selects a facility that meets the service request information on the basis of the service providing information. The details of processing of the selection unit 432 will be described later.

[0056] The output unit 433 outputs the rank information of the organizing user by transmitting requirement list page information to the facility terminal 3 of the facility. The requirement list page information contains the rank information of the organizing user who has transmitted the service request information that coincides with the service providing information of the facility selected by the selection unit 432. In addition, the output unit 433 outputs information regarding the facility selected by the selection unit 432 by transmitting the information regarding the facility as an e-mail to the user terminal 2 of the organizing user to which the manager of the facility proposes a service. The details of processing of the output unit 433 will be described later.

[0057] As the determination unit 434 accepts reservation request information for making a reservation for the facility from the user terminal 2 of the organizing user, to which the information regarding the facility has been output by the output unit 433, the determination unit 434 determines a commission that is charged to the reserved facility on the basis of the rank information of the organizing user who has made a reservation for the facility. The details of processing of the determination unit 434 will be described later.

[0058] The management unit 435 executes the process of matching an organizing user who makes a reservation for a facility at which an event is held with a manager of a facility that provides a service. The details of processing of the management unit 435 will be described later.

[0059] FIG. 5A to FIG. 6B are views that respectively show examples of the data structures of various tables. The server storage unit 42 may store not all or part of the various tables that will be described below. One or a plurality of other devices (database devices, or the like) different from the server 4 may store all or part of these various tables. In this case, at the time when the server 4 uses information stored in these various tables, the server 4 accesses other device(s) that store the tables and acquires information stored in the tables. Pieces of information, contained in each table, may be stored in a form other than table form or may be, for example, stored independently.

[0060] FIG 5A is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the user management table.

[0061] The data structure shown in FIG 5A shows a series of data associated with a user ID 500 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The user ID 500 is information for identifying a user. The series of data includes, for example, a user name 501, an e-mail address 502, and the like. The above-described series of data is illustrative, and may include another piece of information regarding a user.

[0062] The user name 501 is information that indicates the name of a user. The e-mail address 502 is information that indicates a destination address where the server 4 transmits information regarding a facility to the user terminal 2.

[0063] FIG. 5B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the rank management table.

[0064] The data structure shown in FIG 5B shows a series of data associated with a user ID 510 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The series of data includes, for example, rank information 511, reservation count 512, and the like. The above-described series of data is illustrative, and may include another piece of information regarding a rank.

[0065] The rank information 511 is information that indicates the rank of a user. The rank information 511 is information that indicates the status of each user, determined on the basis of a history that the user has made a reservation for a facility. For example, a platinum rank, a gold rank or a silver rank is stored as the rank information 511 in descending order of rank of a user. The reservation count 512 is information that indicates the number of times each user has made a reservation for a facility. The reservation count 512 is an example of the past usage history of a user.

[0066] FIG. 5C is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the facility management table.

[0067] The data structure shown in FIG. 5C shows a series of data associated with a facility ID 520 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The facility ID 520 is information for identifying a facility The series of data includes, for example, a facility name 521, an area 522, a food genre 523, business days 524, business hours 525, an e-mail address 526, and the like. The above-described series of data is illustrative, and may include another piece of information regarding a facility.

[0068] The facility name 521 is information that indicates the name of a facility. The area 522 is information that indicates an area in which a facility is arranged and a hierarchical structure for expressing the area. For example, the hierarchical structure of the area 522 is composed of (prefectures, large area category, medium area category, small area category). The food genre 523 is information that indicates a food that is provided at a facility and a hierarchical structure for expressing the food. For example, the hierarchical structure of the food genre 523 is composed of (large food genre category, small food genre category). The business days 524 is information that indicates days on which the service of a facility is provided. The business hours 525 is information that indicates hours in which the service of a facility is provided. The e-mail address 526 is information that indicates a destination to which the server 4 transmits request notification information to the facility terminal 3. The request notification information is information that is transmitted to the manager of a facility in order to require a proposal of a service to an organizing user. The area 522 and the food genre 523 are examples of service contents contained in the service providing information. The service content contained in the service providing information may be any one of the area 522 and the food genre 523. The service content contained in the service providing information may be any information (for example, the business days 524 and/or the business hours 525) other than the area 522 or the food genre 523.

[0069] FIG 6A is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the requirement management table.

[0070] The data structure shown in FIG. 6A shows a series of data associated with a service request information ED 600 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The service request information ID 600 is information for identifying service request information that an organizing user desires. The series of data includes, for example, a user ID 601, a desired area 602, a desired food genre 603, a desired date and time 604, the desired number of people 605, a budget 606, the desired number of proposals received from facilities 607, the number of facilities of which information has been transmitted 608, a reserved facility ID 609, and the like. The above-described series of data is one example, and may include another piece of information regarding service request information. [0071] The desired area 602 contains areas selected by an organizing user and the ranked choices of the organizing user for the selected areas. The desired food genre 603 contains food genres selected by an organizing user and the ranked choices of the organizing user for the selected food genres. The desired date and time 604 contains desired dates and times selected by an organizing user and the ranked choices of the organizing user for the selected desired dates and times. The desired number of people 605 is the number of users who attend an event to be held. The budget 606 is a budget per person for an event. The desired number of proposals received from facilities 607 is information that indicates the upper limit of the number of pieces of information that the user terminal 2 can receive from the facility terminals 3. The number of facilities of which information has been transmitted 608 is information that indicates the number of times information regarding a facility has been already transmitted to the user terminal 2. The reserved facility ID 609 is information for identifying a facility reserved as a facility at which an event is held. The desired area 602, the desired food genre 603 and the desired date and time 604 are examples of the service request information.

[0072] FIG. 6B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the proposal management table.

[0073] The data structure shown in FIG. 6B shows a series of data associated with a proposal ID 610 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The proposal ID 610 is identification information allocated to each proposal of a service proposed by the manager of a facility. The series of data includes, for example, a facility ID 611, a service request information ID 612, a proposal message 613, and the like. The above-described series of data is illustrative, and may include another piece of information regarding a proposal. The service request information ID 612 is information for identifying service request information corresponding to a service that is proposed by the manager of a facility. The proposal message 613 is a proposed content of a service, proposed by the manager of a facility.

[0074] FIG. 7 is a view that shows an example of the operation sequence of the matching system 1. [0075] The operation sequence that will be described below is executed mainly by the user terminal processing unit 25, the facility terminal processing units 35 and the server processing unit 43 on the basis of programs that are stored in the user terminal storage unit 22, the facility terminal storage units 32 and the server storage unit 42 in advance in cooperation with the elements of the user terminals 2, facility terminals 3 and server 4.

[0076] Initially, in response to operation of an organizing user, the user terminal access unit 251 of the corresponding user terminal 2 logs into the server 4, and transmits setting page request information to the server 4 (step SI 00). The setting page request information is a request for acquiring setting page information. The setting page information is information for displaying a setting page (see FIG. 8) (described later).

[0077] Subsequently, as the management unit 435 of the server 4 receives the setting page request information from the user terminal 2, the management unit 435 transmits the setting page information to the user terminal 2 (step S101). The setting page request information contains the user ID of the organizing user. The management unit 435 consults the user management table (FIG 5 A), and identifies the user name of the organizing user of the user terminal 2 that has transmitted the setting page request information. In addition, the management unit 435 consults the rank management table (FIG. 5B), and identifies the rank information of the organizing user who has transmitted the setting page request information. The management unit 435 transmits the setting page information to the user terminal 2. The setting page information contains the identified user name and rank information of the organizing user, an area in which a service is desired to be provided, a food genre, a date and time, the number of people, a budget, the desired number of proposals received from facilities, and the like.

[0078] Subsequently, as the user terminal access unit 251 of the user terminal 2 receives the setting page information from the server 4, the user terminal access unit 251 displays the setting page on the user terminal display unit 24 on the basis of the received setting page information (step SI 02).

[0079] FIG 8 is a view that shows an example of the setting page that is displayed on the user terminal 2.

[0080] The setting page contains an organizing user name 800, rank information 801, selection areas 802 to 804, pull-down menus 805, 806, 808, 810, a date and time addition button 807, an input box 809, a set button 811, and the like.

[0081] The organizing user name 800 is the user name of the organizing user.

The rank information 801 is the rank of the organizing user. The selection area 802 is an area for selecting a desired area. A top-level area category (for example, whole country) is displayed in the selection area 802 in an initial state. As the top-level area category has been selected by the organizing user, an area category (for example, Tokyo metropolis) lower than the top-level area category is expanded. Thus, the organizing user is allowed to select sequentially the top-level area category to lower-level area categories. In FIG 8, area categories are selected through operation of the organizing user in order of whole country, Tokyo metropolis, Iidabashi, Yotsuya and Kagurazaka, and Yotsuya. The pull-down menu 805 is an area for specifying a ranked choice that the organizing user desires for each selected area category. In the pull-down menu 805, a first choice, a second choice, a third choice, and the like, are displayed as the ranked choices such that the first choice, the second choice, the third choice, and the like, are allowed to be specified.

[0082] The selection area 803 is an area for selecting a desired food genre. The top-level food genre category (for example, all) is displayed in the selection area 803 in an initial state. As the top-level food genre category is selected by the organizing user, the lower-level food genre category (for example, Italian and French) is expanded. Thus, the organizing user is allowed to sequentially select a food genre category in order from the top-level food genre category to the lower-level food genre category. In FIG. 8, the food genre category is selected through operation of the organizing user in order of all foods, and Italian and French. The pull-down menu 806 is an area for specifying a ranked choice that the organizing user desires for each selected food genre category. As well as the pull-down menu 805, a first choice, a second choice, a third choice, and the like, are displayed in the pull-down menu 806 as the ranked choices such that the first choice, the second choice, the third choice, and the like, are allowed to be specified.

[0083] The selection area 804 is an area for selecting a desired date and time. A desired date and a desired time are displayed in the selection area 804 as a desired date and time such that a desired date and a desired time are allowed to be specified. The date and time addition button 807 is a button for adding a desired date and time in a ranked choice lower than the first choice.

[0084] The pull-down menu 808 is an area for selecting the desired number of users who attend an event. The desired number of users who attend an event is displayed in the pull-down menu 808 such that the desired number of users is allowed to be specified. The input box 809 is an area for inputting a budget per person. The pull-down menu 810 is an area for selecting the desired number of proposals received from facilities. The desired number of proposals received from facilities is displayed in the pull-down menu 810 such that the desired number of proposals received from facilities is allowed to be specified. The set button 811 is a button for setting the specified pieces of service request information.

[0085] Subsequently, as the organizing user depresses the set button 811 with the use of the user terminal operation unit 23, the user terminal access unit 251 transmits pieces of service request information, specified on the setting page shown in FIG 8, to the server 4 (step SI 03). The service request information contains a plurality of service contents that the organizing user desires, the ranked choice of the organizing user for each service content of a service, the desired number of people, a budget, the desired number of proposals received from facilities, and the like.

[0086] Subsequently, as the accepting unit 431 of the server 4 receives the service request information from the user terminal 2, the accepting unit 431 stores the pieces of information contained in the received service request information in the requirement management table (FIG. 6 A) (step SI 04). The accepting unit 431 identifies the plurality of service contents contained in the service request information, the ranked choices of the organizing user for each service content of a service, the desired number of people, the budget and the desired number of proposals received from facilities. The accepting unit 431 newly generates a service request information ID, and stores the service request information ID in the requirement management table (FIG. 6A) in association with the identified pieces of information.

[0087] Subsequently, the selection unit 432 selects a facility that meets the service contents contained in the service request information on the basis of the service providing information (step SI 05). The selection unit 432 consults the requirement management table (FIG. 6A) and the facility management table (FIG 5C), and selects a facility that provides a service that coincides with the service contents contained in the service request information accepted in step SI 04. The selection unit 432 consults the requirement management table (FIG. 6A) and the facility management table (FIG. 5C), and selects a facility that is able to provide a service that satisfies a combination of the desired area and the desired food genre, specified by the organizing user. The service contents contained in the service request information may be any one of the desired area and the desired food genre. The service contents contained in the service request information may be any information (for example, desired date and time) other than the desired area or the desired food genre.

[0088] For example, on the setting page shown in FIG. 8, Yotsuya-sanchome station and Yotsuya station are specified as desired areas, and pasta and pizza are specified as desired food genres. In this case, there are the following four combinations. The first combination is a combination of Yotsuya-sanchome station and pasta. The second combination is a combination of Yotsuya-sanchome station and pizza. The third combination is a combination of Yotsuya station and pasta. The fourth combination is a combination of Yotsuya station and pizza.

[0089] Subsequently, the output unit 433 consults the facility management table (FIG. 5C), identifies the e-mail address of the facility terminal 3 of the facility selected by the selection unit 432, and transmits request notification information to the identified e-mail address by e-mail for requiring a proposal of a service to the user (step SI 06). As the facility terminal message management unit 352 of the facility terminal 3 of the facility receives the request notification information from the server 4, the facility terminal message management unit 352 displays the pieces of information, contained in the received request notification information, on the facility terminal display unit 34.

[0090] FIG. 9A is a view that shows an example of an e-mail that is displayed on the facility terminal 3.

[0091] The request notification information contains a destination 900, service request information 901 of the organizing user, request text 902 and a URL 903 for accessing the matching system 1. The facility name of the facility as the destination 900, the service request information input in FIG. 8 as the service request information 901, a message that requires a proposal of a service as the request text 902 and the URL 903 for accessing in order to require a proposal of a service are displayed on the facility terminal 3.

[0092] Subsequently, in response to operation of the manager, the facility terminal access unit 351 of the facility terminal 3 logs into the server 4, and transmits requirement list request information to the server 4 (step SI 07). The requirement list request information is a request for acquiring requirement list page information. The requirement list page information is information for displaying a requirement list page (see FIG. 9B) (described later).

[0093] Subsequently, as the management unit 435 of the server 4 receives the requirement list request information from the facility terminal 3, the management unit 435 transmits the requirement list page information to the facility terminal 3 (step SI 08). The requirement list request information contains a facility ID. The management unit 435 consults the requirement management table (FIG. 6A) and the facility management table (FIG. 5C), and extracts service request information that coincides with service providing information that is provided by the facility of the facility terminal 3 that has transmitted the requirement list request information. The management unit 435 further consults the requirement management table (FIG. 6A) and the rank management table (FIG. 5B), and extracts the rank information of the organizing user who desires the service request information. The management unit 435 transmits the requirement list page information, containing the extracted service request information and the extracted rank information of the organizing user, to the facility terminal 3. [0094] Subsequently, as the facility terminal access unit 351 of the facility terminal 3 receives the requirement list page information from the server 4, the facility terminal access unit 351 displays the requirement list page on the facility terminal display unit 34 on the basis of the received requirement list page information (step SI 09).

[0095] FIG. 9B is a view that shows an example of the requirement list page that is displayed on the facility terminal 3.

[0096] The requirement list page contains pieces of service request information 912, 915, propose buttons 913, 916 respectively for organizing users of which the requirements coincide with the service contents that are provided at the facility of the facility terminal 3, pieces of rank information 914, 917 of the organizing users, and the like. The requirement list page contains sort by newest 910 and sort by rank 911 as buttons for specifying the order of pieces of information respectively for the organizing users.

[0097] Each of the pieces of service request information 912, 915 is service request information that the corresponding organizing user desires. The service contents that coincide with the service providing information that is provided by the facility of the facility terminal 3 and the service contents that do not coincide with the service providing information that is provided by the facility of the facility terminal 3 may be displayed so as to be distinguished from each other. For example, the service contents that coincide with the service providing information that is provided by the facility of the facility terminal 3 may be displayed in boldface type or in color different from that of the service contents that do not coincide with the service providing information (for example, red color). Thus, the manager of the facility is allowed to easily recognize which service the organizing user expects, and is allowed to estimate the level of possibility at which the organizing user makes a reservation for his or her own facility.

[0098] As the sort by newest 910 is selected through operation of the manager of the facility, the facility terminal access unit 351 sorts the pieces of information 912 to 914, 915 to 917 respectively for the organizing users in descending order of time at which the server 4 has received the service request information. The facility terminal access unit 351 may sort the pieces of information 912 to 914, 915 to 917 respectively for the organizing users in ascending order of time at which the server 4 has received the service request information. Thus, the manager of the facility is allowed to organize the pieces of information 912 to 914, 915 to 917 respectively for the organizing users in desired order.

[0099] As the sort by rank 911 is selected through operation of the manager of the facility, the facility terminal access unit 351 sorts the pieces of information 912 to 914, 915 to 917 respectively for the organizing users in descending order of the rank information of each organizing user. Thus, the manager of the facility is allowed to more early find the service request information of the organizing user of which the rank information is high.

[0100] Subsequently, the facility terminal access unit 351 accepts input of a proposal of a service (step SI 10). When the propose button 913 is depressed through operation of the manager, the facility terminal access unit 351 displays a proposal input page for the service request information corresponding to the depressed propose button.

[0101] FIG. 9C is a view that shows an example of the proposal input page that is displayed on the facility terminal 3.

[0102] The proposal input page contains service request information 920, a proposal message input box 921 and a transmit button 922.

[0103] Subsequently, as a proposal message for proposing a service to the user is input and the transmit button 922 is depressed through operation of the manager of the facility, the facility terminal access unit 351 transmits proposal notification information to the server 4 (step Si l l). The proposal notification information contains the proposal message, the service request information ID required from the organizing user to which a proposal is provided, and the facility ID of the facility of the facility terminal 3 that has transmitted the proposal notification information. As the management unit 435 of the server 4 receives the proposal notification information from the facility terminal 3, the management unit 435 identifies the proposal message, service request information ID and facility ID, contained in the received proposal notification information. The management unit 435 newly generates a proposal ID, and stores the proposal ID in the proposal management table (FIG. 6B) in association with the facility ID of the facility of the facility terminal 3 that has transmitted the proposal notification information, the identified proposal message and service request information ID. The management unit 435 consults the facility management table (FIG. 5C), identifies the facility name, area and food genre of the facility of the facility terminal 3 that has transmitted the proposal notification information, and generates information regarding the facility, containing the identified pieces of information.

[0104] Subsequently, the output unit 433 consults the user management table (FIG. 5A), and identifies the e-mail address of the organizing user who desires the service request information corresponding to the service request information ID contained in the proposal notification information. The output unit 433 transmits information regarding the facility to the user terminal 2 by e-mail for the identified e-mail address (step SI 12).

[0105] The output unit 433 determines whether information regarding a facility in the desired number of proposals received from facilities has been already transmitted to the user terminal 2. When the output unit 433 has already transmitted information regarding a facility in the desired number of proposals received from facilities to the user terminal 2, the output unit 433 does not transmit information regarding the facility to the user terminal 2, and transmits an error notification to the facility terminal 3. The management unit 435 consults the requirement management table (FIG 6A), and identifies the desired number of proposals received from facilities, associated with the service request information ID contained in the information regarding the facility. The management unit 435 consults the proposal management table (FIG. 6B), counts the number of transmitted pieces of information regarding a facility for the service request information ID contained in the information regarding the facility, and stores the counted number in the requirement management table (FIG 6A) as the number of facilities of which information has been transmitted. The management unit 435 consults the requirement management table (FIG. 6A), and detenriines whether the user terminal 2 has received information regarding a facility in the desired number of proposals received from facilities on the basis of whether the number of facilities of which information has been transmitted has reached the desired number of proposals received from facilities. When the output unit 433 has not transmitted information regarding a facility in the desired number of proposals received from facilities to the user terminal 2, the output unit 433 transmits the information regarding the facility to the user terminal 2. When the output unit 433 has transmitted information regarding a facility in the desired number of proposals received from facilities to the user terminal 2, the output unit 433 does not transmit the information regarding the facility to the user terminal 2, and transmits an error notification to the facility terminal 3. Thus, it is possible to prevent the user terminal 2 from receiving an excessive amount of pieces of information regarding a facility.

[0106] As the user terminal message management unit 252 of the user terminal 2 receives information regarding a facility from the server 4, the user terminal message management unit 252 displays the pieces of information, contained in the received information regarding the facility, on the user terminal display unit 24.

[0107] FIG. 1 OA is a view that shows an example of an e-mail that is displayed on the user terminal 2.

[0108] The information regarding a facility contains the user name of an organizing user, the facility name, area and food genre of the facility that has proposed a service, a message that requires a reservation for the facility, a URL for accessing in order to make a reservation for the facility, and the like. The user name of the organizing user as the destination 1000, the facility name, area and food genre of the facility that has proposed a service as facility information 1001, the proposal message input in FIG. 9C as a proposal message 1002 of the facility, the message that requires a reservation for the facility as request text 1003, and the URL for accessing in order to make a reservation for the facility as a URL 1004 are displayed on the user terminal 2.

[0109] Subsequently, in response to operation of the organizing user, the user terminal access unit 251 of the user terminal 2 logs into the server 4, and transmits proposal list request information to the server 4 (step SI 13). The proposal list request information is a request for acquiring proposal list page information. The proposal list page information is information for displaying a proposal list page (see FIG. 10B) (described later).

[0110] Subsequently, as the output unit 433 of the server 4 receives the proposal list request information from the user terminal 2, the output unit 433 transmits proposal list page information to the user terminal 2 (step S 114). The proposal list request information contains the user ID of the organizing user. The output unit 433 consults the requirement management table (FIG. 6A) and the proposal management table (FIG. 6B), and identifies the proposal message and the facility ID of the facility that has proposed the proposal message. The output unit 433 consults the facility management table (FIG. 5C), and identifies the facility name, area and food genre, associated with the identified facility ID. The output unit 433 transmits the proposal list page information, containing the identified pieces of information, to the user terminal 2.

[0111] Subsequently, as the user terminal access unit 251 of the user terminal 2 receives the proposal list page information from the server 4, the user terminal access unit 251 displays the proposal list page on the user terminal display unit 24 on the basis of the received proposal list page information (step SI 15).

[0112] FIG. 10B is a view that shows an example of the proposal list page that is displayed on the user terminal 2.

[0113] The proposal list page contains sort by newest 1010 and sort by ranked choice 1011 for specifying the order of pieces of information for the facilities. The proposal list page contains proposals 1012, 1014, reserve buttons 1013, 1015, and the like, respectively for the facilities. The proposal list page contains the facility name, area and food genre 1001 of the facility displayed in FIG. 10A and the proposal message 1002, as the proposal 1012.

[0114] Subsequently, the user terminal access unit 251 accepts input of a reservation for a facility. As the sort by newest 1010 is selected through operation of the organizing user, the user terminal access unit 251 sorts the proposals 1012, 1014 respectively for the facilities in descending order of time at which the server 4 has received the proposal notification information. The user terminal access unit 251 may sort the proposals 1012, 1014 respectively for the facilities in ascending order of time at which the server 4 has received the proposal notification information. Thus, the organizing user is allowed to organize the proposals 1012, 1014 respectively for the facilities in desired order.

[0115] As the sort by ranked choice 1011 is selected through operation of the organizing user, the user terminal access unit 251 sorts the proposals 1012, 1014 respectively for the facilities in descending order of coincidence of the proposal with the service request information. The order of coincidence with the service request is the descending order of the ranked choice contained in the service request information. As the reserve button is depressed through operation of the organizing user, the user terminal access unit 251 displays a reservation page for making a reservation for the facility corresponding to the depressed reserve button on the user terminal display unit 24.

[0116] FIG. IOC is a view that shows an example of the reservation page that is displayed on the user terminal 2.

[0117] The reservation page contains information 1020 regarding a reservation for the facility, input boxes 1021, 1022 and a transmit button 1023. The reservation page contains the facility name, the desired date and time and the desired number of people as the information 1020 regarding a reservation for the facility, contains an input area for inputting the phone number of the organizing user as the input box 1021 , and an input area for inputting a request message to the facility as the input box 1022.

[0118] Subsequently, the phone number of the organizing user is input to the input box 1021, the request message is input to the input box 1022, and the transmit button 1023 is depressed through operation of the organizing user. Then, the user terminal access unit 251 transmits the reservation request information to the server 4 (step SI 16). The reservation request information contains the information regarding a reservation for the facility, the input phone number and request message of the organizing user, the facility ID of the facility corresponding to the reserve button depressed in FIG. 10B, and the service request information ID.

[0119] Subsequently, as the accepting unit 431 of the server 4 receives the reservation request information from the user terminal 2, the accepting unit 431 stores the pieces of information, contained in the reservation request information, in the requirement management table (FIG. 6 A) (step SI 17). The accepting unit 431 identifies the information regarding a reservation for the facility, the phone number and request message of the organizing user, the facility ID corresponding to the reserve button, and the service request information ID, contained in the reservation request information. The accepting unit 431 stores the identified facility ID in the requirement management table (FIG. 6A) in association with the service request information ID. The accepting unit 431 consults the rank management table (FIG 5B), and increments the reservation count of the organizing user who has made a reservation for the facility (increases the reservation count by one). The output unit 433 consults the facility management table (FIG. 5C), and identifies the e-mail address of the facility terminal 3 corresponding to the identified facility ID.

[0120] Subsequently, the output unit 433 transmits reservation notification information to the identified e-mail address of the facility terminal 3 by e-mail (step SI 18). The reservation notification information contains the identified information regarding a reservation for the facility, and the phone number and request message of the organizing user. Thus, the manager of the facility is allowed to see that the organizing user has made a reservation for the facility, and is allowed to contact the organizing user for confirmation of reservation, or the like, with the use of the phone number of the organizing user.

[0121] Subsequently, the determination unit 434 determines an introduction commission on the basis of the rank information of the organizing user (step SI 19). The introduction commission is a commission for introducing customers in the reservation number of people that the organizing user has made a reservation for the reserved facility. The detemiination unit 434 consults the requirement management table (FIG. 6A) and the rank management table (FIG 5B). The determination unit 434 determines the introduction commission such that the introduction commission for introducing customers in the reservation number of people that the organizing user has made a reservation for the reserved facility rises as the rank information of the organizing user is higher. The introduction commission per person of the reservation number of people is, for example, 10 yen when the rank information of the organizing user is silver, 40 yen when the rank information of the organizing user is gold, and 80 yen when the rank information of the organizing user is platinum. When the user X of which the rank information is platinum has made a reservation for the facility in FIG IOC, the determination unit 434 determines 320 yen, obtained by multiplying the introduction commission per person of the reservation number of people "80 yen/person" by the reservation number of people "4", as the introduction commission. The determination unit 434 may directly determine the introduction commission without multiplying the introduction commission per person of the reservation number of people.

[0122] Subsequently, the determination unit 434 transmits commission charge notification information, containing the determined introduction commission, to the facility terminal 3 (step SI 20). The determination unit 434 charges the introduction commission to the facility of the facility terminal 3 by transmitting the commission charge notification information to the facility terminal 3.

[0123] Subsequently, the management unit 435 updates the rank information of the organizing user who has made a reservation for the facility (step SI 21). The management unit 435 consults the rank management table (FIG. 5B), and updates the rank information in response to the reservation count of the organizing user who has made a reservation for the facility. The management unit 435 determines the rank information of the organizing user as, for example, silver when the reservation count falls within the range of 0 to 10, gold when the reservation count falls within the range of 11 to 80, or platinum when the reservation count is larger than or equal to 81. The management unit 435 updates the rank information by storing the determined rank information of the organizing user in the rank management table (FIG 5B).

[0124] In this way, the server 4 is able to appropriately determine a commission in response to the past usage history of a user. More information regarding a user is transmitted to a facility in a state before a reservation is made as compared to the existing art, so it is possible to smoothly match a user with a facility. Thus, a manager of a facility terminal can efficiently distinguish a user who is highly likely to utilize the facility, thereby reducing a server load by eliminating a redundant refining search or extra search. In addition, owing to the manner of setting a commission, it is possible to further smoothly perform matching. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation that it takes time to match a user with a facility and, as a result, the resources of the server 4 are not released for a long time. On the other hand, the manager of the facility is allowed to select a user of which the number of times of usage of the facility in the past is large from among organizing users who require a service on the basis of the rank information 100 of each organizing user, displayed on the facility tenninal 3. In addition, the manager of the facility is allowed to determine for which service request information a service is proposed in consideration of the crowdedness of the facility at a date and time at which the service is provided and a commission based on the rank of an organizing user.

[0125] The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG 10C. For example, the embodiment may be modified or changed as described below.

[0126] (1) In the process of step SI 19 in FIG 7, the management unit 435 may consult the requirement management table (FIG. 6A), and may determine the introduction commission on the basis of the ratio of the number of times reservation request information has been accepted from each user terminal 2 to the number of times that service request information has been accepted from the user terminal 2. Thus, the manager of a facility is allowed to further accurately estimate the probability that an organizing user makes a reservation for the facility on the basis of the rank information of the organizing user.

[0127] (2) In the process of step SI 19 in FIG 7, the management unit 435 may determine the introduction commission on the basis of the degree of coincidence between the service request information that the organizing user desires and the service providing information that the selected facility provides. The degree of coincidence between the service request information that the organizing user desires and the service providing information that the selected facility provides is, for example, determined on the basis of the level of the ranked choice contained in the service request information. In this case, the management unit 435 determines the introduction commission such that the introduction commission rises as the ranked choice of the organizing user for a service that the facility provides is higher. Thus, the server 4 is able to determine the introduction commission in response to the level of the probability that an organizing user makes a reservation for a facility. [0128] (3) When the management unit 435 has received the reservation request information in step SI 17 in FIG. 7, the management unit 435 may consult the rank management table (FIG. 5B), and may give a bonus to the organizing user who has made a reservation for the facility in response to the rank information of the organizing user. The management unit 435 gives a more valuable bonus to the organizing user who has made a reservation for the facility as the rank information of the organizing user is higher. In this case, the management unit 435 gives a bonus less valuable than the introduction commission of the reservation for the facility to the organizing user. The bonus is, for example, points that may be used to pay a commission for a reserved facility, rate discount or price discount of a commission that is paid for a reserved facility, providing a free service from a reserved facility, or the like. The free service is, for example, one drink free, novelty goods present, or the like. Thus, the organizing user continuously utilizes the matching system 1 in order to obtain a better bonus, so it is possible to improve the frequency of usage of the matching system 1. Hereinafter, the bonus that is given in response to the rank information of an organizing user may be referred to as first bonus

[0129] (4) The management unit 435 may give a second bonus to the organizing user in response to the introduction commission determined by the determination unit 434. Hereinafter, the process of giving the second bonus will be described.

[0130] Initially, the determination unit 434 determines the introduction commission in step SI 19, and gives part of the determined introduction commission to an operating manager who operates the server 4 as a fixed commission. Subsequently, the determination unit 434 determines a difference between the introduction commission and the fixed commission as the second bonus. The second bonus may be any bonus as long as the bonus is valuable in response to the introduction commission. For example, the second bonus may be cash, points, rate discount (price discount), service, or the like, equivalent to a price calculated by multiplying the determined introduction commission by a predetermined ratio. In this case, a difference between the introduction commission and the second bonus is determined as a fixed commission.

[0131] The management unit 435 gives the second bonus, determined by the determination unit 434, to the organizing user. For example, when the second bonus is cash, points, or the like, the management unit 435 identifies the user ID of the organizing user, to which the second bonus is given, from the user management table, and stores the second bonus in the user management table in association with the identified user ID. For example, when the second bonus is bonus page display data for displaying a page that shows a rate discount (price discount) or a service, the management unit 435 transmits the second bonus to the user terminal 2 of the organizing user.

[0132] In this way, in the matching system 1, when the second bonus that is given in response to the introduction commission determined by the determination unit 434 is given to the organizing user, it is possible to improve an organizing user willingness to utilize the matching system 1.

[0133] (5) The management unit 435 may give a bonus, which is a combination of the first bonus in the above-described alternative embodiment (3) and the second bonus in the above-described alternative embodiment (4) , to an organizing user as a third bonus. In this case, for example, when the first bonus is 200 yen discount and the second bonus is 100 yen discount, the management unit 435 gives 300 yen discount to the organizing user as the third bonus. For example, when each of the first bonus and the second bonus is a one drink free service, the management unit 435 gives a two drink free service to the organizing user as the third bonus.

[0134] (6) In the process of step SI 06 in FIG. 7, the output unit 433 may consult the rank management table (FIG. 5B), and may transmit request notification information, further containing a commission based on the rank information of the organizing user, to the facility terminal 3. The commission based on the rank information of the organizing user is, for example, an introduction commission per person of the reservation number of people "80 yen/person". Alternatively, the commission based on the rank information of the organizing user may be, for example, 320 yen obtained by multiplying the introduction commission per person of the reservation number of people "80 yen/person" by the reservation number of people "4". Similarly, in step SI 08 in FIG 7, the management unit 435 may consult the rank management table (FIG. 5B), and may transmit requirement list page information, further containing a commission based on the rank information of the organizing user, to the facility terminal 3. Thus, the manager of the facility is allowed to determine for which service request information a service is proposed in consideration of the crowdedness of the facility at a date and time at which the service is provided and a commission based on the rank of an organizing user.

[0135] (7) On the requirement list page shown in FIG. 9B, a setting as to whether a reservation for the facility is allowed to be cancelled from the facility terminal 3 may be displayed such that the setting is allowed to be accepted. In this case, in the process of step SI 19 in FIG. 7, the determination unit 434 determines the introduction commission such that the introduction commission in the case where a cancellation of the reservation for the facility is set so as to be allowed is higher than the introduction commission in the case where a cancellation of the reservation is set so as not to be allowed. Thus, the server 4 is able to increase variations of a reservation for a facility, and is able to increase choices of the manager of a facility. The manager of a facility is allowed to select whether a cancellation of a reservation for a facility is set so as to be allowed in response to the crowdedness of the facility at a desired date and time.

_ [0136] FIG 11 A is a view that shows an example of another requirement list page that is displayed on the facility terminal 3.

[0136] The requirement list page shown in FIG. 11 A contains radio buttons 1100, 1103. The radio buttons 1100, 1103 are buttons for setting whether a cancellation of a reservation for a facility is allowed. As one of the radio buttons is selected and the propose button is depressed through operation of the manager of the facility, the facility terminal access unit 351 incorporates a setting corresponding to the selected radio button into proposal notification information and then transmits the proposal notification information to the server 4.

[0137] (8) On the proposal input page shown in FIG. 9C, when there are a plurality of desired dates and times, dates and times that the manager proposes may be displayed so as to be selectable. Similarly, on the reservation page shown in FIG IOC, when there are a plurality of desired dates and times, dates and times for which the organizing user makes a reservation may be displayed so as to be selectable. Thus, the user terminal access unit 251 or the facility terminal access unit 351 is able to specify any date and time to be proposed or any date and time to be reserved among the plurality of desired dates and times.

[0138] FIG 1 IB is a view that shows an example of another proposal input page that is displayed on the facility terminal 3.

[0139] The proposal input page shown in FIG 11 B contains check boxes 1110, 1111. The check boxes 1110, 1111 are buttons for selecting a date and time that the manager proposes. As one of the check boxes is selected and the transmit button 1113 is depressed through operation of the manager of the facility, the facility terminal access unit 351 incorporates the desired date and time, corresponding to the selected check box, into proposal notification information and transmits the proposal notification information to the server 4.

[0140] FIG. 11C is a view that shows an example of another reservation page that is displayed on the user terminal 2.

[0141] The reservation page shown in FIG. 11C contains radio buttons 1120, 1121. The radio buttons 1120, 1121 are buttons for selecting a date and time for which the organizing user makes a reservation. As one of the radio buttons is selected and the transmit button 1124 is depressed through operation of the organizing user of the user terminal 2, the user terminal access unit 251 incorporates the desired date and time, corresponding to the selected radio button, into reservation request information and transmits the reservation request information to the server 4.

[0142] (9) The determination unit 434 of the server 4 may calculate an introduction commission in response to the number of people who have actually used a facility. The number of people who have actually used a facility is the number of customers who have actually used a facility for which a reservation has been made with the use of the user terminal 2 of an organizing user.

[0143] In the process of calculating an introduction commission in response to the number of people who have actually used a facility, initially, the facility terminal processing unit 35 of the facility terminal 3 acquires the number of people who have actually used the facility, input by the manager of the facility through operation of the facility terminal operation unit 33. Subsequently, the facility terminal processing unit 35 transmits the acquired number of people who have actually used the facility to the server 4 via the facility terminal communication unit 31. Subsequently, as the accepting unit 431 of the server 4 receives the number of people who have actually used the facility via the server communication unit 41, the determination unit 434 determines a price, obtained by multiplying the introduction commission per person of the reservation number of people by the number of people who have actually used the facility, as the introduction commission. The determination unit 434 charges the introduction commission to the facility of the facility terminal 3 by transmitting commission charge notification information containing the determined introduction commission to the facility terminal 3.

[0144] In this way, in the matching system 1 , when an introduction commission that is determined in response to the number of people who have actually used a facility is calculated, it is possible to charge the facility the introduction commission that is determined in response to the number of people who have actually used the facility.

[0145] (10) The computer program for causing a computer to implement the functions of the user terminal processing unit 25, facility terminal processing unit 35 and server processing unit 43 may be provided such that the computer program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a magnetic recording medium and an optical recording medium.

[0146] Persons skilled in the art understand that various modifications, replacements and changes are allowed to be added to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A control method for a server (4) including a storage unit (42) that stores service providing information and rank information, the service providing information containing at least service contents that are provided by a plurality of facilities, the rank information being based on past usage histories of a plurality of users, the control method characterized by comprising:

accepting service request information from a user terminal (2), the service request information containing at least a service content that the corresponding user desires;

selecting a facility that meets the service request information on the basis of the service providing information;

outputting at least the rank information of the user and a commission that is charged to the selected facility on the basis of the rank information of the user to a facility terminal (3) of the selected facility; outputting information regarding a facility that outputted a notification information through the facility terminal of the selected facility to the user terminal of the user when receiving the notification information; and

accepting a reservation request information from the user terminal of the user for making a reservation of a facility which the user selected among the selected facility that has outputted the notification information.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

the rank information of the user is determined on the basis of the number of times the reservation request information has been accepted from the user terminal of the user.

3. The control method according to claim 1, wherein

the rank information of the user is determined on the basis of the ratio of the number of times the reservation request information has been accepted from the user terminal of the user to the number of times the service request information has been accepted from the user terminal of the user.

4. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

in outputting the rank information, a commission based on the rank information of the user is further output.

5. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

the commission is determined on the basis of the degree of coincidence between the service request information that the user desires and the service providing information that the selected facility provides.

6. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: accepting, from the facility teraiinal of the selected facility, a setting as to whether a cancellation of a reservation for the selected facility is allowed, and

in determining the commission, a commission in the case where a cancellation of the reservation for the selected facility is set so as to be allowed is determined so as to be higher than a commission in the case where a cancellation of the reservation for the selected facility is set so as not to be allowed.

7. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: when the reservation request information has been accepted from the user terminal of the user, giving a first bonus to the user in response to the rank information of the user.

8. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: determining a second bonus in response to the determined commission; and giving the determined second bonus to the user.

9. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: when the reservation request information has been accepted from the user terminal of the user, determining a first bonus in response to the rank information of the user and determining a second bonus in response to the determined commission; and

giving a combined bonus of the first bonus and the second bonus to the user.

10. The control method according to claim 8, wherein

in giving the second bonus,

part of the determined commission is given to an operating manager of the server as a fixed commission, and

a difference between the determined commission and the fixed commission is deterrnined as the second bonus.

11. A server (4) characterized by comprising:

a storage unit (42) that stores service providing information and rank information, the service providing information containing at least service contents that are provided by a plurality of facilities, the rank information being based on past usage histories of a plurality of users;

an accepting unit (431) that accepts service request information from a user terminal (2), the service request information containing at least a service content that the corresponding user desires;

a selection unit (432) that selects a facility that meets the service request information on the basis of the service providing information;

an output unit (433) that outputs at least the rank information of the user and a commission that is charged to the selected facility on the basis of the rank information of the user to a facility terminal (3) of the selected facility and that outputs information regarding a facility that outputted a notification information through the facility terminal of the selected facility to the user terminal of the user when receiving the notification information from the facility terminal; and

a management unit (435) that accepts a reservation request information from the user terminal of the user for making a reservation of a facility which the user selected among the selected facility that has outputted the notification information.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for a server (4), the server including a storage unit (42) that stores service providing information and rank information, the service providing information containing at least service contents that are provided by a plurality of facilities, the rank information being based on past usage histories of a plurality of users, the control program causing the server to execute instructions for:

outputting at least the rank information of the user and a commission that is charged to the selected facility on the basis of the rank information of the user to a facility terminal (3) of the selected facility;

outputting information regarding a facility that outputted a notification information through the facility terminal of the selected facility to the user terminal of the user when receiving the notification information; and