Matching device

Abstract

To facilitate appropriate matching for both service users and service providers. [Solution] The matching device matches service providers and service users of mobile services whose service location moves. The matching device comprises one or more storage devices that store a demand map of mobile services, and one or more processors. The one or more processors receive service capacity information of multiple service providers, which is information determined by the multiple service providers referring to the demand map, from each of the multiple provider terminals operated by the multiple service providers. Based on the mobile service usage request information from the first service user and the service capacity information of the multiple service providers, the processor performs a matching process to select a first service provider to assign to the first service user, and updates the demand map based on the result of the matching process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for matching service providers and service users of mobile services where the service-providing location moves.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile store management device. The mobile store management device collects information on the demand of a mobile store (for example, a kitchen car) from a user's terminal, creates a demand map based on this information, and outputs the created demand map to the terminal of the operator of the mobile store. The demand map visually shows on a map the locations where the mobile store can be reserved and the level of demand for the mobile store at those locations.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses an optimization system that models the correlation between customer churn between stores and store attribute information as inputs, stores the model, and presents information on the store where a customer is likely to visit based on the model to increase customer churn between stores.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004] <000​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[0006] The matching device relating to this disclosure matches service providers and service users of mobile services whose service locations are mobile. The matching device comprises one or more storage devices that store a demand map of mobile services, and one or more processors. The one or more processors receive service capacity information of multiple service providers, which is information determined by the multiple service providers referring to the demand map, from each of multiple provider terminals operated by the multiple service providers, and execute a matching process to select a first service provider to assign to the first service user based on the mobile service usage request information from the first service user and the service capacity information of the multiple service providers, and update the demand map based on the result of the matching process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, the demand map is updated based on matching results derived from service user request information and service provision capacity information from multiple service providers. In other words, the demand map showing the demand for mobile services is updated to reflect service provision capacity information from service providers. This updated demand map is useful information for service providers who wish to provide mobile services, as it allows them to consider the compatibility between their service provision capacity and the demand for mobile services before bidding to provide services. For service users, it leads to matching with service providers who have the service provision capacity to provide the mobile services they desire more appropriately. Therefore, the realization of appropriate matching is promoted for both service users and service providers. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This diagram illustrates the overview of the mobile services targeted by the matching system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2]This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a matching system according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows a specific example of a demand map according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of the processing flow related to matching and updating the demand map according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows an example of the processing flow related to the presentation of the optimal means of transportation according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0010] 1. Overview of mobile services Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the overview of a mobile service targeted by the matching system 1 (see Figure 2) according to this embodiment. In Figure 1, a fixed-location service is shown for comparison with the mobile service. In a fixed-location service, the service user U (hereinafter also simply referred to as "User U") travels to a fixed service location to receive the service. In contrast, in a mobile service, the service provider P (hereinafter also simply referred to as "Provider P") travels to the user's location (i.e., the service location), which is where the demand for the service arises, and provides the service to User U. In other words, in a mobile service, the service location moves.

[0011] Mobile services (hereinafter also simply referred to as "Service S") are diverse. Examples of Service S include food and beverage, nursing care, chiropractic, fitness (e.g., yoga, gym), medical care, snack lockers, karaoke, health checkups, dry cleaning, lessons, finance, insurance, tax, legal services, etc. The means of transportation used by the service provider P are also diverse. Examples of means of transportation include autonomous vehicles, drones, public transport, rental cars, etc.

[0012] To add to this, the provision of service S by provider P (e.g., provision of yoga services) includes cases where provider P (e.g., yoga instructor) travels to the service location using their own means of transportation to provide service S. Furthermore, the provision of service S also includes cases where provider P does not travel to the service location but instead dispatches an unmanned means of transportation equipped with the necessary facilities for providing service S (e.g., dispatching an autonomous vehicle equipped with facilities for providing yoga or food and beverage services and capable of unmanned, autonomous driving).

[0013] 2. Matching System Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the matching system 1 according to this embodiment. The matching system 1 is a system for matching service providers P and service users U of a mobile service (service S) whose service provision location moves. The matching system 1 includes a server 10, a plurality of provider terminals 20, and a plurality of user terminals 30.

[0014] Server 10 is a computer that intervenes between each provider terminal 20 and each user terminal 30 and performs various processes in the matching system 1. These processes include matching-related processes and processes related to updating the demand map described later. Server 10 corresponds to an example of a "matching device" as described in this disclosure. Server 10 includes a communication device 11, one or more processors 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as processor 12), and one or more storage devices 13 (hereinafter simply referred to as storage devices 13).

[0015] The communication device 11 communicates with each provider terminal 20 and each user terminal 30 via a communication network. The processor 12 executes the above various processes. Examples of the processor 12 include a general-purpose processor, a specific-purpose processor, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and the like. The storage device 13 stores various information necessary for various processes. Examples of the storage device 13 include a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), and the like. The information stored in the storage device 13 includes movement means information described later together with a demand map.

[0016] The functions of the server 10 are realized by the cooperation of the processor 12 that executes a computer program and the storage device 13. The computer program is stored in the storage device 13. Alternatively, the computer program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0017] The provider terminal 20 is operated by the provider P. Examples of the provider terminal 20 include a smartphone, a personal computer, and the like. The information stored in the storage device of the provider terminal 20 includes service provision ability information described later.

[0018] The user terminal 30 is operated by the user U. Examples of the user terminal 30 include a smartphone, a personal computer, and the like. The information stored in the storage device of the user terminal 30 includes usage desire information described later.

[0019] 3. Processes in the matching system Each provider terminal 20 and each user terminal 30 store a predetermined application (matching application). The provider P and the user U who use the matching system 1 can access the server 10 (matching device) and use the matching service by operating the provider terminal 20 and the user terminal 30 respectively to start the matching application.

[0020] In this embodiment, the matching between the user U and the provider P is performed using a "demand map". The demand map is a map that visualizes the demand for mobile services (service S) in time and space. More specifically, for example, it is a map for each content of service S (e.g., food and beverage, caregiving, financial insurance). The demand map is generated in advance based on, for example, past statistical data and stored in the storage device 13 of the server 10. Then, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 4, the demand map is updated to reflect the results of the matching each time the matching is established.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of the demand map according to this embodiment. In FIG. 3, as examples of a plurality of types (fields) of service S, a food and beverage service S1, a caregiving service S2, and a financial insurance service S3 are listed. The demand maps for each service S1 to S3 are created for each individual time zone (e.g., morning, noon, night).

[0022] In the example shown in Figure 3, each demand map indicates the level of demand for each service S1 to S3 at each location on a two-dimensional map. The level of demand is represented, for example, by the size of the circle. In each demand map, the larger the area of ​​the circle, the greater the demand for service S at that location. Therefore, a provider P referring to the demand map can understand from the demand map how much capacity there is to supply the service S (hereinafter referred to as "service Sp") that they can provide at the locations and time periods of interest. The demand map may also include an auxiliary indicator showing the response time for service provision required of provider P, as shown as "N minutes" in Figure 3. This response time is the time from when provider P receives a request for service S until when service S can be started at the designated location. Note that a three-dimensional map may also be used as the demand map.

[0023] 3-1. Matching and updating the demand map Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow related to matching and updating the demand map according to this embodiment.

[0024] <Step S100> A user U who wishes to receive service S operates the user terminal 30 to launch the matching app and enters "desired service information." Examples of desired service information include the content of the desired service S, the desired location for service S, the desired time slot for service S, and the user U's ID information. The desired service information corresponds to the demand information for service S. The user terminal 30 stores the entered desired service information in its own storage device and also sends it to the server 10.

[0025] <Step S102> A provider P who wishes to provide service S operates the provider terminal 20 to launch the matching application. The provider terminal 20 requests a demand map from the server 10 and obtains the requested demand map from the server 10. More specifically, the provider terminal 20 requests information from provider P, such as the content (field), location, and time of provision of service S that provider P is interested in providing, and obtains a demand map from the server 10 corresponding to the entered information. The process then proceeds to step S104.

[0026] <Step S104> The provider terminal 20 displays the acquired demand map on its own display and accepts input of "service provision capacity information (supply information)" from provider P. That is, provider P determines (inputs) service provision capacity information while referring to the demand map. Service provision capacity information includes the services Sp that provider P can provide, the locations (locations) where provider P can provide the services Sp, the time periods during which the services Sp can be provided, the content of the services Sp, provider P's ID information, etc. After that, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0027] <Step S106> The provider terminal 20 stores the service provision capability information determined by provider P in its own storage device and also transmits it to the server 10.

[0028] <Step S108> Server 10 (processor 12) is constantly accepting transmissions of usage request information from each user U. That is, the usage request information of each user U is received and collected by Server 10. Similarly, Server 10 is constantly accepting transmissions of service provision capability information from each provider P. That is, the service provision capability information of each provider P is also received and collected by Server 10.

[0029] Server 10 performs a "matching process." In the matching process, Server 10 selects a provider P1 (first service provider) to assign to user U1 (first service user) according to a predetermined algorithm, based on the usage request information from a user U1 (first service user) and the service provision capability information of multiple providers P.

[0030] In addition, in the matching process, congestion information may be used along with the desired service information and the service provision capacity information of multiple providers P in order to achieve a more satisfactory match for both user U1 and provider P1. More specifically, the congestion information referred to here is, for example, information on congestion along the travel route of a vehicle (e.g., an automobile) when the means of transportation necessary for each of the multiple providers P to provide service Sp is a vehicle. After step S108, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0031] <Step S110> Server 10 (processor 12) updates the demand map based on the results of the matching process in step S108. More specifically, Server 10 updates the demand map by reflecting the results of the matching process in the demand map corresponding to the content, location, and time of service S that is the subject of this matching.

[0032] As the process shown in Figure 4 described above is repeatedly executed, the demand map is updated based on past matching results. As a result, the demand map becomes more comprehensive.

[0033] 3-2. Presenting the optimal mode of transportation When matching is performed using the matching process described above, there may be multiple candidates for the means of transportation available to provider P1 assigned to user U1. In such cases where there are multiple candidates for the means of transportation, the matching system 1 may perform the following process.

[0034] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow related to the presentation of the optimal means of transportation according to this embodiment. For example, when the matching process shown in Figure 4 is completed, the server 10 determines whether there are multiple candidates for means of transportation available to provider P1. If there are multiple candidates, the process shown in Figure 5 is executed.

[0035] <Step S200> Server 10 extracts multiple candidate modes of transportation to deliver service Sp to user U1 based on the user U1's desired usage information and the service provider P1's service provision capability information. More specifically, Server 10 extracts multiple candidate modes of transportation that match the desired usage information and service provision capability information. Server 10 also stores the extracted candidates in storage device 13.

[0036] In addition, "means of transportation information" may be used to extract multiple candidates. As mentioned above, means of transportation information is stored in the storage device 13 of the server 10. Means of transportation information is a database of information on various means of transportation that can be presented to multiple providers P using the matching system 1. Examples of means of transportation information include information on the type of means of transportation (e.g., vehicle, public transport, drone), information on the equipment that the means of transportation is equipped with for providing service S (e.g., equipment for providing yoga services), information on the area where the means of transportation can be used, range information, route information (e.g., public transport route map), etc. After step S200, the process proceeds to step S202.

[0037] <Step S202> To present the extracted candidates to provider P1, server 10 transmits the candidates to provider P1's provider terminal 20 (first provider terminal). Examples of the candidates include autonomous vehicles equipped with facilities for providing service Sp by provider P1 and dispatched by unmanned automatic driving, non-autonomous vehicles modified to have the above facilities, public transportation (e.g., trains, buses), rental cars, etc.

[0038] <Step S204> The provider terminal 20 receives multiple candidates from the server 10, displays the received candidates on its own display, and accepts the selection of a mode of transportation from the provider P1. The provider terminal 20 then transmits information about the mode of transportation selected by the provider P1 from among the multiple candidates to the server 10.

[0039] <Step S206> When the server 10 receives information about the mode of transportation selected by provider P1 from provider terminal 20, the server 10 notifies user U1 via user terminal 30 operated by user U1 that user U1 is requesting approval for the use of the mode of transportation selected by provider P1 for the provision of this service.

[0040] <Step S208> When the server 10 receives a request for approval of the above means of transportation, the user terminal 30 of user U1 receives input from user U1 regarding whether or not to approve the use of the above means of transportation. The user terminal 30 then transmits user U1's decision result to the server 10.

[0041] <Steps S210-S212> Based on the judgment result received from the user terminal 30, the server 10 determines whether user U1 has approved the use of the above means of transportation. If user U1 has approved (step S210; Yes), the process proceeds to step S212.

[0042] In step S212, the server 10 determines the means of transportation that provider P1 will use to provide service Sp, based on the means of transportation approved by user U1. On the other hand, if user U1 does not approve (step S210; No), the server 10 may return to step S202 and present provider P1 with the remaining candidates from the multiple candidates extracted in step S200, excluding the means of transportation not approved by user U1.

[0043] 4. Effects In matching a user U with a provider P, it is desirable that the matching be appropriate for both the user U and the provider P. Specifically, for the user U, it is preferable that the matching is with a provider P that has the service provision capability to appropriately provide the mobile service (service S) desired by the user U. Furthermore, for the provider P, it is preferable that the matching is such that it is easy for them to enter the business of providing service S as an individual.

[0044] According to the server 10 (matching device) of this embodiment, the demand map is updated based on matching results derived from the service request information from user U (user U1) and the service provision capability information of multiple providers P. In other words, the demand map showing the demand for service S is updated to reflect the service provision capability information from provider P (provider P1). The updated demand map in this way is useful information for provider P who wish to provide service S (service Sp), as it allows them to consider the compatibility between their own service provision capability and the demand for service S (service Sp) before deciding to offer the service. For user U, this leads to matching with provider P (provider P1) who has the service provision capability to provide the desired service S more appropriately. Therefore, the realization of an appropriate match is promoted for both user U and provider P.

[0045] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the service provision capacity information may also include information on the time periods during which service S can be provided. This will enable more appropriate matching. More specifically, providers P (service providers) will be able to deploy service S (businesses) in the right places at the right time. This will lead to increased efficiency in logistics for society as a whole.

[0046] Furthermore, as described above, based on user U1's desired usage information and provider P1's service provision capability information, multiple candidate modes of transportation to deliver service Sp to user U1 may be extracted and presented to user U1. This makes it possible to present a mode of transportation that is suitable for user U1's service usage preferences and provider P1's service provision capability.

[0047] Furthermore, if a mode of transportation is selected by provider P1 from among the above-mentioned options, user U1 may be asked to approve the use of that mode of transportation, as described above. This prevents user U1 from receiving a mode of transportation that they did not intend, and improves user U1's sense of security regarding the use of service S. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1 Matching system, 10 Servers (matching devices), 11 Communication devices, 12 Processors, 13 Storage devices, 20 Provider terminals, 30 User terminals

Claims

1. A matching device that matches service providers and users of mobile services where the service location moves, One or more storage devices for storing the demand map for the mobile service, One or more processors, Equipped with, The one or more processors described above are: From each of the multiple provider terminals operated by the multiple service providers, information is received regarding the service provision capacity of the multiple service providers, which is information determined by the multiple service providers referring to the demand map. Based on the information from the first service user regarding their desire to use the mobile service and the service provision capacity information of the multiple service providers, a matching process is performed to select a first service provider to assign to the first service user. Based on the results of the matching process, update the demand map. Matching device.

2. A matching device according to claim 1, The service provision capacity information includes information on the time periods during which the multiple service providers can provide the mobile service. Matching device.

3. A matching device according to claim 1, The one or more processors described above are: Based on the requested usage information and the service provision capability information of the first service provider, multiple candidate means of transportation for delivering the mobile service to the first service user are extracted. The extracted candidates are presented to the first service provider via the first provider terminal included in the plurality of provider terminals. Matching device.

4. A matching device according to claim 3, The one or more processors described above are: Information on the means of transportation selected by the first service provider from among the aforementioned multiple candidates is received from the first provider terminal. The first service user is notified via a user terminal operated by the first service user of a request for approval that the selected means of transportation be used. Matching device.

5. A matching device according to claim 3, The aforementioned candidates include autonomous vehicles equipped with facilities for providing the aforementioned mobile services and dispatched by unmanned, automated driving. Matching device.

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