Connecting users with care homes

Abstract

Method S100 for connecting a user with a number of care homes, comprising: identifying a location of the user; calculating a distance between the user and each of the care homes; determining S120 a ra

Description

Technical Field This disclosure relates to connecting users with service providers. In particular, this disclosure provides a method and a system for connecting users with care homes. Background Care homes provide personal care services and accommodation to their residents. Customers may live at the care home for long or short periods, depending upon their circumstances and their health status. A broad variety of care homes provide services that are customised to their residents. When choosing a care home, potential customers typically compare available care homes, so that they can decide which is the most suitable match. There is a demand to simplify the way in which customers can find out about available care homes, so that they can efficiently choose a care home that is right forthem. Potential customers for care homes often turn to the internet to find suitable service providers. Existing platforms such as Lottie and Carehome.co.uk lack features that enhance user experience. For instance, increased pricing transparency will help potential customers to find a care home that offers appropriate care services, within their available budget. Innovation is to be found in improving the efficiency of handling of search requests, in order to increase the speed of the website at providing search results. There is a demand for a platform that implements a more refined and intuitive user interface, ensuring that users can navigate with ease to find what they're looking for. The search functionalities of Lottie and Carehome.co.uk are limited in terms of refinement options. This leads to results that are not well tailored to individual users. There is a demand for a broader range of search options, allowing users to refine their searches more effectively. This ensures that users receive tailored results that are relevant to their circumstances, thus enhancing their overall experience. Existing platforms suffer from performance issues, leading to slow load times that can frustrate users. There is a demand for technical infrastructure, including features like compression &organization, which ensures swift page loads and efficient resource utilization. This guarantees users a smooth and efficient browsing experience. The disclosed developments are provided with while being sensitive to obligations relating to data protection and integrity, which ensures that user data remains secure and confidential. Summary Aspects of the present invention are set out by the claims. Further aspects are also described. As a first aspect, there is provided a method (S100) for connecting a user with a number of care homes. The method comprises identifying (Sllla) a location of the user; calculating (Slllb) a distance between the user and each of the care homes; determining (S120) a ranking of the number of care homes based on the calculated distances; and recommending (S130) the number of care homes to the user based on the ranking. Advantageously, this confers a technical effect of providing a way to order the care homes based on their distance from the user. The care homes may be ordered from nearest to farthest, with the care homes that are closer to the identified location being ranked higher than care homes that are further away. Optionally, the method further comprises: identifying (S112a) services that are required by the user; and determining (S112b) whether the services are offered by each of the care homes; wherein determining (120) the ranking is further based on the determination of whether the services are offered. Advantageously, this confers a technical effect of providing a way to order the care homes based on whether the care homes offer particular services. The care homes may be ordered so that the best matches are ranked more highly. Optionally, the method further comprises: identifying (S113a) a budget of the user; and determining (S113b) whether each of the care homes is within the budget of the user; wherein determining (120) the ranking is further based on the determination of whether the care homes are within the budget of the user. Advantageously, this confers a technical effect of providing a way to order the care homes based on cost. The care homes may be ordered from least expensive to most expensive, with the care homes that are cheaper being ranked higher. Optionally, identifying (Illa) the location of the user comprises receiving an input from the user, and retrieving details of the location from a database. Advantageously, an input received by the user is matched with a stored location. This allows coordinates of the stored location to be compared with coordinates of the care homes, in order to calculate the distance between them. This simplifies the way in which the location of the user is identified. Optionally, an auto-complete function is used to suggest possible locations that match part of the input received from the user. Advantageously, this provides a simple and efficient way for the user to input their location, and makes it more likely that the user will select a location that is already stored in the database. Optionally, identifying (Illa) the location comprises receiving coordinates from a device that is associated with the user. Advantageously, the user device can provide specific coordinates of the device that is being used, simplifying the way in which the location of the device is identified, reducing the burden on determination of the distance of the user from the care homes. Optionally, identifying (Illa) the location comprises receiving coordinates from the device that have been determined from a signal received from a global positioning satellite. Advantageously, the user can provide their location without having to manually provide any details, which simplifies the process of determining the distance between he user and the care homes. Optionally, calculating (111b) the distance comprises comparing coordinates associated with the userand coordinates associated with each of the care homes. Advantageously, this allows the user to obtain an as-the-crow-flies measure of the distance to the care homes. This provides a simpler calculation than, for example, calculating the actual distance travelled by road, or the time taken via a particular route. Determining the actual distance of the user to the different care homes provides a simple way of ranking their suitability. As a second aspect, there is provided a program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method according to the first aspect. As a third aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a program according to the second aspect. As a fourth aspect, there is provided a system (10) for connecting a user with a number of care homes. A specifying unit (110) is configured to identify (Sllla) a location of the user, and to calculate (Slllb) a distance between the user and each of the care homes. A determining unit (120) is configured to determine (S120) a ranking of the number of care homes based on the calculated distances. A recommending unit (130) is configured to recommend (S130) the number of care homes to the user based on the ranking. Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: • FIGs. 1A-1C illustrates a user interface that can be used to provide customers with recommended care homes that satisfy their requirements, with: o FIG. 1A showing a screen that can be used by a customer to identify their requirements; o FIG. IB showing a screen that provides the customer with a block view showing the recommended service providers; and o FIG. IC showing a screen that provides the customer with a map view showing the recommended service providers. • FIGs. 2A-2B are flow charts illustrating a method for providing customers with recommended service providers, wherein: o FIG. 2A providing an overview of the method for recommending service providers; and o FIG. 2B showing how customer requirements may be taken into consideration; • FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating a system configured to provide the customers with the recommended service providers; and • FIG. 3B is an architecture diagram providing further detail of a system configured to provide the customers with the recommended service providers. Detailed Description Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Disclosure is provided of a way to connect a user with service providers. This is illustrated by Carefinder, as an example for which a potential customer is provided with details of recommended care homes. A user interface is provided that allows users to log in either as a customer or as a provider. By logging in, customers seeking a service provider are offered a unique user experience that is tailored for seekers, thus enhancing user engagement. A comprehensive user interface ensures that users have access to a detailed and intuitive dashboard, that is streamlined to user interactions. The provider login allows individual providers to ensure that data about the service that they offer is accurate. Central support available to deal with any issues experienced by providers or customers, in order to ensure that the accuracy of the data is further enhanced. The accuracy of the data means that the platform is more reliable, and ensures that users can make informed decisions. Enhanced search features and choice ensures that users have a broad range of options that can be selected, allowing for tailored results. The platform does not accept paid sponsorship to boost rankings, which ensures that search results are unbiased, ensuring genuine and relevant listings for users. Fast and efficient search results are achieved, and so users receive almost instant results that are tailored to their needs without requiring further refinement. A platform is disclosed that provides a clear and streamlined process, guiding users through each step and offering transparent cost information. The platform ensures up-to-date listings, removing incomplete or outdated pages, meaning that users can access accurate and complete information. While many platforms are fast, Carefinder optimised data delivery, ensuring swift load times and efficient data presentation. The Carefinder platform employs unique data protection measures, making it challenging for unauthorised entities to scrape data. Carefinder prioritises genuine listings, not allowing paid sponsorships to influence rankings, ensuring unbiased results for users. FIGs. 1A-1C illustrates a user interface which can be used to recommend to a user a number of service providers. In the example shown, the service providers that are identified are care homes, although it will be appreciated that this disclosure is not necessarily restricted to this specific type of service provider. The user interface can be found on a website that is hosted on the internet. The user can visit the website by typing the appropriate URL (Uniform Resource Locator) into a browser, or by searching for the website using a search engine. The user interface can be displayed on a device operated by the user, such as a smartphone or on a desktop computer. A banner of the user interface provides buttons that assist with navigation around the site: • A "Home" button displays a home screen to the user, from which the user can access various functions of the user interface. • A "How it works" button takes the user to a page that explains to the user more about the process that can be used to seek recommended service providers. • A "Contact Us" button allows the user to get in touch, to request further information or to provide feedback. • A "Care Guides" button takes the user to care guides that explain the different types customer services that are available. • A "Provider Dashboard" button allows service providers to access a portal that can be used to offer services. • A "Sign In" button allows potential customers to access their personal accounts, which can be used to store the types of service providers that they are searching for, or specific search results that they have shortlisted. FIG. 1A shows a screen that can be used by the customer to identify their requirements. The customer specifications can be input by following three simple steps. • Step 1: The user inputs their location information. This allows the search results to be sorted from nearest to farthest, so that the service providers closer to a selected location are ranked higher than service providers that are further away. If care homes are further away than a threshold value, then they may be filtered out due to their location being considered unsuitable. o In this example, an auto-complete function is shown presenting possible locations based on a string of text that has been entered by the user. (Further detail below). o As an alternative, the location information can be obtained by detecting the current location of the user device which may, for example, be determined using a signal that has been received by the device from a global positioning satellite (GPS). • Step 2: The user provides details of the type of care home that they are seeking. For example, the user may require treatment for particular heath conditions. The search results can be sorted so that the care service providers that are the closest match are ranked higher than service providers that are less suitable. The service providers may be filtered based on the services that they offer. • Step 3: The user can select a price per week that would be within their budget. The service providers may be sorted so that the least expensive service providers are ranked more favourably than the more expensive service providers. Furthermore, if a service provider exceeds the available budget, then that service provider may be filtered based on cost. This three-step process for seekers to search for care homes offers high user satisfaction, as well as enhancing the likelihood of achieving successful care home matches. The input information is used to filter the available care homes, so that the user is presented with a recommendation that includes suitable matches. An "Advance Filter" button allows the filtering of the service providers to be further specified by the customer. For example, the user may be interested to search for service providers that offer particular social activities or entertainment. Also, the user may be interested to rank the care homes based on proximity to amenities. The search results may be ranked based on reputable ratings (e.g., CQC (Care Quality Commission) ratings). The following method describes how the search results can be filtered and sorted based on location: 1. The Vue.js front-end utilizes the Google Places Autocomplete API to enable location autocomplete in the Vue.js application. When a user types in the location input field, the Vue.js front-end sends requests to the Google Places Autocomplete API to fetch location suggestions. (Google is a registered trade mark). 2. The Vue.js front-end communicates with a Laravel service, which acts as an intermediary between the front-end and the back-end. The Laravel service receives the autocomplete requests from the front-end and forwards them to the back-end Laravel application. (Laravel and Vue are registered trade marks). 3. The Laravel back-end exposes an API endpoint to handle autocomplete requests. Upon receiving an autocomplete request, the back-end Laravel application forwards the request to the CloudSearch service. 4. The back-end Laravel application utilizes the CloudSearch API to perform locationbased searches. Specifically, the back-end sends a request to CloudSearch using the 'sort=distance' parameter to get results sorted from nearest to farthest. 5. CloudSearch processes the request, performs the geospatial search based on the provided coordinates, and returns a list of locations sorted by distance. 6. The back-end Laravel application receives the sorted results from CloudSearch. It processes the results and sends a response back to the Laravel service. 7. The Laravel service receives the response from the back-end Laravel application. It then forwards the response back to the Vue.js front-end. 8. The Vue.js front-end receives the final response containing the sorted list of locations from the Laravel service. It updates the user interface to display the autocomplete suggestions to the user, arranged in order from nearest to farthest. In summary, this process involves the Vue.js front-end initiating location autocomplete requests, which are then relayed through Laravel services to the back-end Laravel application. The back-end uses the CloudSearch service to perform geospatial searches, and the results are subsequently sent back to the front-end for display. This workflow ensures that the Vue.js application can seamlessly leverage the power of CloudSearch for efficient and accurate location-based searches. A "Search Care Homes" button is used to begin a search for service providers satisfying the customer specifications that have been entered. The results are ranked and filtered based on requirements that are bespoke to each potential customer. The location identified for the user is compared with the locations of the available care homes. This is achieved by comparing coordinates of the user with coordinates of each of the care homes. The distance of the user from each of the care homes is measured using an as-the-crow-flies calculation. Alternatively, the distance is determined by calculating the distance of a route to travel to the care home, or based on the time taken to travel via such a route for a selected mode of transport. The distance measure is used to rank and filter the results. Similarly, other parameters contribute to this ranking and filtering, such as the type of services that are to be provided, and the costs associated with the different services requested. The user interface shown in FIG. 1A progresses to the page shown on FIG. IB or FIG. IC, with the best matches for the search being shown. A "Block View" button provides the user with the block view shown in FIG. IB. A "Map View" button provides the user with the map view shown in FIG. IC. A "Fine Tune Results" button allows the user to further filter the search provider results. FIG. IB presents the user with matches that have been filtered according to the user specifications. The user is presented with a profile photo of the care home, its name, and its distance from the location. In this case, the service providers are ordered by distance, starting with the service providers that are closest to the user. However, it is possible for the user to display the search providers according to other requirements, such as them being ordered by cost. A heart shaped icon can be selected to save a service provider in a list of favourites. The user can find out more about each service provider by selecting a "More details" button. FIG. IC provides a map view that shows the location of each care home that is being recommended. A location marker identifies the location on the map of each care home. Selecting a location marker results in further details being presented, such as the photo and name of the care home. When used on a desktop computer, the user can zoom in or out of the map by pressing the control key on the keyboard, and using the mouse to scroll in or out. When using a smartphone, the user can zoom in or out of the map by making a gesture on the touchscreen, by moving two fingers apart or towards one another. FIGs. 2A-2B provide flow chart illustrating a method S100 for providing customers with recommended service providers. FIG. 2A provides an overview of the method, with FIG. 2B illustrating a method S110 for identifying customer requirements that may be taken into consideration when recommending the service providers. • In step S110, requirements of the customer are identified. This may be achieved by the user interface shown in FIG. 1A, in order to filter the search results. The user may input their location, the types of care homes to be considered, and the cost. Further details of step S110 are illustrated in FIG. 2B. o The user can identify their location (step Sllla), which is used to calculate a distance to each service provider (step Slllb). Thus, care homes can be filtered if they are in unsuitable locations, and may be placed in order of distance from the selected location. o The user can identify which services they would like to receive (step S112a), with a determination being made of whether the service provider offers the requested services (step S112b). Thus, different types of care homes can be filtered, and placed in order of preference based on which care homes are the most suitable match. o The user can identify their budget (step S113a), with a determination being made of whether the service provider is within budget (step S113b). Thus, the care homes can be filtered based on cost, and may be placed in order of cost. o The above filters may be used in combination. Advanced filters are available which allow further specifications to be selected by the user. • In step S120, service providers are ranked based on the requirements specified by the customer. The service providers are placed in an order in which they are to be presented, such as based upon distance to a location specified by the user. • In step S130, the customer is provided with the recommended service providers. This may be achieved by the user being presented with results as shown in FIG. IB and / or FIG. IC. FIGs. 3A-3B are schematic diagrams illustrating a system 10 configured to provide the customers with the recommended service providers. The website is hosted by one or more server 1. The website may be hosted by a cloud service 1, wherein the servers 1 are provided as distributed infrastructure, hosted for example by Amazon Web Services (AWS) (registered trade mark). The website is accessed by a browser that is installed on a user device 2 that is operated by the user, such as a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer. The server 1 interacts with the user device 2 via a network 3. FIG. 3A illustrates how the method S100 shown in FIGs. 2A-2B may be implemented by the system 10. The server 1 includes a processor that serves as a specifying unit 110, a determining unit 120, and a recommending unit 130. • The specifying unit 110 is configured to identify the requirements that have been specified as being suitable for the user (step S110). • The determining unit 120 is configured to determine the ranking of the service providers (step S120). • The recommending unit 130 is configured to provide the user with details of the recommend service providers (step S130). The user device 2 includes a display 21, an input unit 22, a processor 23, a memory 24, and a communication unit 25. The display 21 presents the user interface as shown in FIGs. 1A-1C. The input unit 22 receives commands from the user such as a keyboard (e.g. a virtual keyboard), a mouse, or a touchscreen. The processor 23 executes software stored in the memory 24 of the user device. The communication unit 25 is configured to interact with the server 1 via the network 3. FIG. 3B provides further details for a specific example of the system 10, with the server 1 interacting with a number of user devices 2 via the network 3. In this example, the server 1 is provided as a cloud service 1 hosted by AWS (registered trade mark). The cloud service 1 hosts a front-end container 310, a back-end container 320, a subscription container 330, and a content management container 340 (which may also be referred to as a WordPress container). Thus, containerized deployment is implemented to host containers 310, 320, 330, 340. • The front-end container 310 contains the Laravel + Vue.js application in a Docker container, with Vue.js providing a front-end interface and interaction logic, and with Laravel providing a back-end framework to handle database and business logic. During use, the Laravel front-end container 310 receives requests and forwards them to the back-end container 320 for processing. • The back-end container 320 contains the Laravel back-end application in a Docker container, and is developed on Laravel, and manages business logic, database interaction, and provides an API (Application Programming Interface) to the frontend container 310. o During use, the back-end container 320 provides API responses to the frontend container 310, including sorted search results. o The back-end container 320 is configured to communicate with a search module 321 and a database module 322. o The search module 321 is an AWS CloudSearch module 321 that is used to implement coordinate-based searches, ensuring accurate and real-time results. o The database module 322 implements DynamoDB (registered trade mark), and is used to store fundamental information about care homes, including coordinates, addresses, ratings, and phone numbers. o Location Auto-Suggestions are implemented by Google API for location autosuggestions, enhancing user experience. o Processing of search requests is performed by the front-end module sending requests to Laravel, including parameters such as CQC ratings, comfort levels, room sizes, facilities, etc. o The data stored by the database module 322 is used to determine the ranking of the care homes, as well as provide users with information about the care homes that are recommended (e.g., location, services available , cost, contact details). o Thus, the back-end container 320 is configured to sorts search results, to present them in order of proximity, enhancing user experience. • The subscription container 330 contains the subscription application in a Docker container, can run independently and communicates with the back-end via API, and during use manages vendor subscriptions, fee collection, etc. • The content management container 340 contains a WordPress CMS (Content Management System) in a Docker container, can run independently and communicate with the back-end via API, and during use utilizes WordPress as a CMS system, providing data source to the front-end. o During use, the content management container 340 communicates with a database 341. o (WordPress is a registered trade mark.) A forwarding module 350 provides communication between a cloud front module 360 and the containers (310, 320, 330, 340). The forwarding module 350 may be configured to implement Nginx Forwarding, using Nginx software for traffic forwarding and load balancing among containers. The forwarding module 350 acts as a reverse proxy, receiving and forwarding requests from the front-end container 310, the back-end container 320, the subscription container 330, and the content management container 340. The forwarding module implements traffic forwarding and load balancing, ensuring smooth communication between containers (310, 320, 330, 340). A content delivery module 360 is configured to communicate with the forwarding module 350. The content delivery module 360 may be provided by a CloudFront network 360, which accelerates static content distribution, enhancing global user access speed and performance. (CloudFront is a registered trade mark). The cloud service 1 further includes an object storage module 371, an email module 372, and a DNS management module 373. The object storage module 371 uses scalable storage infrastructure to manage the storage of the described internet application, as well as providing backups, disaster recovery, data archives, analytics, and hybrid cloud storage. The email serviced 372 is configured for sending email notifications and confirmation emails, improving user experience and communication. A DNS manager 373 is configured to manage the Domain Name System (DNS), providing domain resolution services. Carefinder uniquely integrates Laravel and Vue.js for user interface and interaction, with advanced AWS CloudSearch for real-time, coordinate-based searches. This combination, tailored for the care home retrieval sector, offers a novel approach to connecting care seekers and providers. Carefinder uniquely integrates Laravel and Vue.js for user interface and interaction, with advanced AWS CloudSearch for real-time, coordinate-based searches. This combination, tailored for the care home retrieval sector, offers a novel approach to connecting care seekers and providers. The integration of Vue.js and Laravel provides a seamless user experience, while the back-end, powered by Laravel, handles complex business logic. This setup is uncommon in care home retrieval applications, providing a user-friendly and efficient platform. The manner in which Vue.js communicates with Laravel to handle user requests and the subsequent interaction with AWS CloudSearch for geospatial searches is not standard in care home software, representing a new approach in this field. The software's specific use of AWS CloudSearch to perform real-time, coordinate-based searches for care homes, coupled with DynamoDB for efficient data storage and retrieval, is tailored to the unique needs of care home seekers, a novel utility in this sector. The application's specific use of CloudSearch for sorting search results by proximity based on user location is a novel implementation in the care home industry. The software utilizes DynamoDB to store comprehensive care home data, including unique attributes like coordinates, ratings, and contact information, in a way that optimizes retrieval for user searches, which is an innovative approach in this industry. The containerization of each component of Carefinder using Docker is particularly novel in the way it enhances scalability and flexibility, which is not a common approach in care home software solutions. The use of Nginx as a reverse proxy for efficiently managing communication and load balancing between various software components is a unique implementation within this particular application context. The combination of Google Places API for location auto-suggestions with the Laravel back-end's processing and forwarding of these requests to CloudSearch for geospatial searches represents a unique amalgamation of technologies for this industry. The method used by the back-end to sort search results by proximity and deliver them effectively to the user is a specialized process developed specifically for the care home retrieval context, representing a non-obvious approach. The combination of real-time geospatial searches, advanced data storage and retrieval methods, and an optimized user interface for care home retrieval is new and not previously explored in this industry. The specific ways in which the software integrates and utilizes these technologies go beyond what would be considered obvious to a professional in the care home software development field. The software offers a transparent, efficient, and detailed-oriented search experience for care seekers, greatly facilitated by the novel integration of the technologies and processes mentioned. The disclosed examples can be realised by a computer of a system or apparatus. These examples can be implemented by any device configured to execute instructions, or any dedicated hardware that is capable of carrying out all or a portion of the functionality. Disclosure is provided of hardware (e.g., a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor unit (MPU)) configured to read out and executes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the disclosed examples. For this purpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via a network or from a recording medium of various types serving as the memory device (e.g., a computer-readable medium such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium). The steps of the disclosed methods may be performed in any suitable order, or simultaneously where possible. Although the disclosed subject matter has been described using specific terminology relating to apparatus features and / or method features, it is to be understood that the claimed subject matter is not necessarily limited to the examples disclosed. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. The advantages disclosed may relate to several of the examples that are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method (S100) for connecting a user with a number of care homes, the method comprising:identifying (Sllla) a location of the user;calculating (Slllb) a distance between the user and each of the care homes;determining (S120) a ranking of the number of care homes based on the calculated distances; andrecommending (S130) the number of care homes to the user based on the ranking.

2. The method (S100) according to claim 1, further comprising:identifying (S112a) services that are required by the user; anddetermining (S112b) whether the services are offered by each of the care homes;wherein determining (120) the ranking is further based on the determination of whether the services are offered.

3. The method (S100) according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:identifying (S113a) a budget of the user; anddetermining (S113b) whether each of the care homes is within the budget of the user;wherein determining (120) the ranking is further based on the determination of whether the care homes are within the budget of the user.

4. The method (S100) according to any preceding claim, wherein identifying (Illa) the location of the user comprises receiving an input from the user, and retrieving details of the location from a database.

5. The method (S100) according to claim 4, further comprising using an auto-complete function to suggest possible locations that match part of the input received from the user.

6. The method (S100) according to any preceding claim, wherein identifying (Illa) the location comprises receiving coordinates from a device that is associated with the user.

7. The method (S100) according to claim 6, wherein identifying (Illa) the location comprises receiving coordinates from the device that have been determined from a signal received from a global positioning satellite.

8. The method (S100) according to any preceding claim, wherein calculating (111b) the distance comprises comparing coordinates associated with the user and coordinates associated with each of the care homes.

9. A program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method according to any preceding claim.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program according to claim 9.

11. A system (10) for connecting a user with a number of care homes, the system comprising:a specifying unit (110) configured to identify (Sllla) a location of the user, and to calculate (Slllb) a distance between the user and each of the care homes;a determining unit (120) configured to determine (S120) a ranking of the number of care homes based on the calculated distances; anda recommending unit (130) configured to recommend (S130) the number of care homes to the user based on the ranking.

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