Method of supporting matching of guardians and sitters

Abstract

To provide a technique that enables more flexible provision of services that are friendly to users and sitters.SOLUTION: In a method of supporting matching between a user who is a guardian of a child, and a sitter who performs childcare of the child, a server terminal receives a sitter search request, refers to reservation information of the guardian, refers to sitter information about multiple sitters, and determines a sitter who matches the reservation information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for supporting matching between parents of children and sitters who provide temporary childcare for the children. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, babysitting services that provide temporary childcare, similar to babysitting, have become popular.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology relating to a platform that mediates matching between users who are guardians of children and babysitters. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2002-073784 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, although Patent Document 1 discloses technology to facilitate matching between parental users and sitters, in reality, situations occur where a matched sitter cancels at the last minute due to various circumstances, or where sitters look after children for multiple nights, and the types of sitting services are diversifying, so a system that can flexibly respond to these cases is desired.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can provide a more flexible and user- and sitter-friendly service. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A method for assisting in matching a user who is a guardian of a child with a sitter who takes care of the child according to an aspect of the present invention, wherein a server terminal receives a search request from the sitter, refers to the reservation information of the guardian, refers to sitter information regarding a plurality of sitters, and determines a sitter who matches the reservation information.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology that can provide a more flexible and user- and sitter-friendly service.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below do not unduly limit the content of the present invention described in the claims. Also, not all of the components shown in the embodiments are essential components of the present invention.

[0011] <Configuration> FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing a system for assisting matching between a user who is a guardian of a child and a sitter who takes care of the child according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This system 1 activates a web browser or an application installed on each user terminal 200 of a user who is a guardian of a child, receives a request to match a sitter who takes care of the child via the user interface of the user terminal 200, refers to information about the sitter received from each sitter terminal 300 of a plurality of sitters who take care of the child, and provides a service for assisting in matching the guardian and the sitter. It is composed of a server terminal 100, a user terminal 200, and a sitter terminal 300. Here, the server terminal may manage information about the sitter via a sitter operator who manages each sitter. In that case, this system can function as a matching platform between the guardian and the sitter, which matches the guardian with the sitters managed by each of a plurality of sitter operators. Also, here, there may be a plurality of user terminals 200 and sitter terminals 300, but unless otherwise specified, hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of explanation, one user terminal 200 and one sitter terminal 300 will be described as examples.

[0012] The server terminal 100, the user terminal 200, and the sitter terminal 300 are each connected via a network NW. The network NW is composed of the Internet, an intranet, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the like.

[0013] The server terminal 100 may be a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or a personal computer, or may be logically realized by cloud computing. In the present embodiment, for the sake of convenience of explanation, one server terminal is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a plurality of server terminals may be used.

[0014] The user terminal 200 and the sitter terminal 300 are information processing devices such as personal computers or tablet terminals, for example, but may be configured by smartphones, mobile phones, PDAs, or the like.

[0015] In the present embodiment, the system 1 includes the server terminal 100, the user terminal 200, and the sitter terminal 300. The system 1 will be described as having a configuration in which a guardian operates the server terminal 100 using the user terminal or a sitter operates the server terminal 100 using the sitter terminal. However, the server terminal 100 may be configured as a stand-alone device and may be provided with a function for each user to directly perform operations on the server terminal itself.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a functional block configuration diagram of the server terminal 100 in FIG. 1. The server terminal 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit 130.

[0017] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface for communicating with the user terminal 200 and the sitter terminal 300 via the network NW. Communication is performed according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), for example.

[0018] The storage unit 120 stores programs for executing various control processes and each function in the control unit 130, input data, etc., and is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. Further, the storage unit 120 has a user data storage unit 121 that stores various data related to the guardian, and a business operator data storage unit 122 that stores various data related to the sitter business operator and / or sitter who manages the sitter. Note that a database (not shown) storing various data may be constructed outside the storage unit 120 or the server terminal 100.

[0019] The control unit 130 controls the overall operation of the server terminal 100 by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 120, and is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. As functions of the control unit 130, there is an information reception unit 131 that receives information such as instructions and requests from the user terminal 200 or the sitter terminal 300, etc., and an information processing unit 132 that performs predetermined information processing such as referring to and processing various data related to the guardian and the sitter. These, the information reception unit 131 and the information processing unit 132, are activated by the programs stored in the storage unit 120 and executed by the server terminal 100 which is a computer (electronic computer).

[0020] When the user or sitter makes a predetermined request (such as entering text or pressing an icon) through the user interface such as a screen provided by the server terminal 100 and displayed via a web browser or an application on the user terminal 200 or the sitter terminal 300, the information reception unit 131 receives information from the user terminal 200 or the sitter terminal 300 via the communication unit 110.

[0021] The information processing unit 132 stores the information received from the user terminal 200 in the user data storage unit 121, performs processing to refer to the stored user data, stores the information received from the sitter terminal 300 in the operator data storage unit 122, performs processing to refer to the stored operator data, and also executes predetermined information processing such as matching a guardian and a sitter and performing health management of the sitter.

[0022] Also, although not shown in the figure, the control unit 130 has an image generation unit and generates screen information to be displayed via the user interface of the user terminal 200 or the sitter terminal 300. For example, using the images and text data stored in the storage unit 120 as materials, by arranging various images and texts in a predetermined area of the user interface based on a predetermined layout rule, the information to be displayed on the user interface is generated. The processing related to the image generation unit can also be executed by a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).

[0023] FIG. 3 is a functional block configuration diagram showing the user terminal 200 of FIG. 1. The user terminal 200 includes a communication unit 210, a display operation unit 220, a storage unit 230, and a control unit 240.

[0024] The communication unit 210 is a communication interface for communicating with the server terminal 100 via the network NW, and communication is performed according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP.

[0025] The display operation unit 220 is a user interface used for a user to input instructions and display text, images, etc. according to input data from the control unit 240. When the user terminal 200 is configured as a personal computer, it is composed of a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. When the user terminal 200 is configured as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, it is composed of a touch panel or the like. This display operation unit 220 is activated by a control program stored in the storage unit 230 and executed by the user terminal 200 which is a computer (electronic computer).

[0026] The storage unit 230 stores programs for executing various control processes and each function in the control unit 240, input data, etc., and is composed of a RAM, a ROM, etc. Further, the storage unit 230 temporarily stores the communication content with the server terminal 100.

[0027] The control unit 240 controls the overall operation of the user terminal 200 by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 230, and is composed of a CPU, a GPU, etc.

[0028] Note that the server terminal 100 may be configured to have the function of the display operation unit. In this case, it may be configured not to include the user terminal 200. Also, the sitter terminal 300 may have the same configuration as the user terminal 200, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of user data stored in the server 100.

[0030] The user data 1000 shown in FIG. 4 stores various data related to the guardian received from the guardian via the user terminal 200. In FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, an example of one user (guardian identified by the user ID "10001") is shown, but information of multiple guardians can be stored. As various data related to the guardian, for example, it can include basic information of the guardian (user name (nickname), name of the guardian, address, contact information (phone number, etc.), email address, password, contracting business operator (and contract details), etc.). Also, the user data 1000 can include payment means such as credit card information, accounting information related to the accounting for each sitter use, reservation information related to reservations including conditions for sitter use (date and time, dispatch location (home, etc.), usage details, business operator information, sitter information, etc.), check-in / check-out information at the dispatch location of the reserved sitter, and childcare information such as reports recording the time and details of childcare of children by the sitter, etc. Here, by registering as a member with a specific sitter business operator, the guardian can also store, as user data 1000, history information related to reservations and childcare details of sitters used in the past.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the business operator data stored in the server 100.

[0032] The service provider data 2000 shown in FIG. 5 stores various data related to the service provider who manages sitters. In FIG. 5, for the sake of convenience of explanation, an example of one service provider (the service provider identified by the service provider ID "20001") is shown, but information related to a plurality of service providers can also be stored. As various data related to the service provider, for example, basic information related to the service provider (service provider name, address, person in charge name, contact information (phone number, e-mail address, etc.), service provider's homepage URL, etc.), fee information of the sitter service provided by the service provider (including by time period, by option, etc.), accounting information for each sitter reservation provided to the guardian, reservation information related to the reservation including conditions related to sitter use (date and time, dispatch location (home, etc.), use details, service provider information, sitter information, etc.), and childcare information such as reports recording the time and details of childcare of children by the sitter provided to the guardian, etc. can be included. Further, the service provider data 2000 can include information related to the sitters managed by the service provider. In this example, for the sake of convenience of explanation, an example of one sitter (the sitter identified by the sitter ID "21001") is shown, but information related to a plurality of sitters can also be stored. As various data related to the sitter, for example, basic information related to the sitter (sitter name (nickname), name, address, age, gender, activity area (dispatchable area), contact information (phone number, e-mail address, etc.), resume (including sitter experience), qualifications, etc.), reservation information related to the reservation including conditions related to sitter use (available date and time, dispatchable location (home, etc.), use details (number of children to be protected, childcare for sick children, etc.)), and childcare information such as check-in / check-out information at the dispatch destination, reports recording the time and details of childcare of children by the sitter, etc. can be included.

[0033] FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart showing a process for assisting matching between a user who is a guardian of a child and a sitter who provides childcare for the child according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Here, in order to use this system 1, the guardian of a child accesses the server terminal 100 using the web browser of the user terminal 200 or (when installing an application) an application or the like. When using the service for the first time, the guardian inputs basic information of the aforementioned guardian and the like, and starts using the service by registering as a member through telephone authentication and / or a predetermined authentication such as SNS. Alternatively, the guardian can also use the service without registering as a member. If the guardian has already acquired a user account, the service becomes available by logging in after receiving a predetermined authentication such as inputting an ID and password. After this authentication, a predetermined screen is displayed on the user interface via a website or an application or the like. Similarly, for a sitter, the sitter accesses the server terminal 100 using the web browser or an application of the sitter terminal 300, and pre-registers predetermined information such as basic information regarding the sitter mentioned above.

[0035] Moreover, this example assumes a case where, while the guardian makes a reservation for using a sitter once, a situation occurs where the sitter has to suddenly cancel due to various circumstances, and it is necessary to match an alternative sitter. Conventionally, based on the rule of thumb of an intermediary, a practice was carried out of assigning a flexible sitter as an alternative sitter. However, with this example, not only does it contribute to improving business efficiency, but it is also more flexible. For the guardian, it can be in a form where the existing reservation content does not change, and for the sitter, it can be in a form where the sitter can take over the sitter service as an alternative without being forced, thus making it possible to provide a friendly mechanism for both parties. The following describes this mechanism.

[0036] First, as the process of step S101, the information reception unit 131 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 receives, via the communication unit 110, a search request for an alternative sitter from a business operator terminal that manages (not shown) sitters, and the information processing unit 132 executes a search process for an alternative sitter. Also, this search process can be executed when, instead of the above search request, a cancellation request is received from the sitter terminal 300 of an existing reservation sitter. At this time, as search conditions, it can include the conditions of the existing reservation, such as reservation date and time, dispatch location, and usage details (time zone, presence or absence of sitter designation and sitter name, presence or absence and details of the sitter's desired experience and / or qualifications, presence or absence of accommodation, number of children, presence or absence of sick child care, (if there is a designated business operator) business operator name, etc.).

[0037] Subsequently, as the process of step S102, the information processing unit 132 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 refers to the reservation information included in the above search conditions. The reservation information of the guardian is stored as user data 1000 in the user data storage unit 121 of the storage unit 120, and the information processing unit 132 can refer to, as reservation information, the reservation date and time, dispatch location, and usage details (time zone, presence or absence of sitter designation and sitter name, presence or absence and details of the sitter's desired experience and / or qualifications, presence or absence of accommodation, number of children, presence or absence of sick child care, (if there is a designated business operator) business operator name, etc.).

[0038] Subsequently, as the process of step S103, the information processing unit 132 refers to sitter information regarding the registered sitters based on the above reservation information. The sitter information is stored as business operator data 2000 in the business operator data storage unit 122 of the storage unit 120, and the information processing unit 132 can refer to, as sitter information, the experience and qualifications including the sitter's sitter history, the available date and time of the sitter, the dispatchable location, and the usage details (time zone, presence or absence of sitter designation and sitter name, presence or absence and details of the sitter's desired experience and / or qualifications, presence or absence of accommodation, number of children, presence or absence of sick child care, (if there is a designated business operator) business operator name, etc.).

[0039] Subsequently, as the process of step S104, the information processing unit 132 determines a sitter who is an alternative candidate for the already reserved sitter based on the reservation information and the sitter information. The information processing unit 132 determines an alternative candidate sitter by extracting one or more sitters who meet the conditions from the registered sitters based on the condition information included in the reservation information, such as reservation date and time, dispatch location, and usage details (time slot, presence or absence of sitter nomination and sitter name, presence and / or content of the sitter's desired experience and / or qualifications, presence or absence of accommodation, number of children, presence or absence of sick child care, (if there is a designated operator) operator name, etc.).

[0040] FIG. 7 is another example of a flowchart showing a process for assisting matching between a user who is a guardian of a child and a sitter who takes care of the child according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] In the above process, when determining a sitter who is an alternative candidate, as the process of step S201, the information processing unit 132 sends a notification asking whether the determined one or more sitters can accept the reservation to the sitter terminals 300 of the sitters.

[0042] Subsequently, as the process of step S202, the information reception unit 131 receives a response from one or more sitter terminals 300 indicating acceptance of the reservation. Here, when a sitter cannot accept the reservation for some reason, the information reception unit 131 can also receive a notification indicating non-acceptance. The information processing unit 132 can finally determine one sitter from the sitters who have accepted the reservation as the sitter to be reserved, randomly, in the order of arrival, or based on predetermined conditions (the sitter who most closely matches the reservation conditions, the sitter who has accepted the reservation of the requester in the past, the sitter closest to the location designated by the requester, etc.). Then, the information processing unit 132 can send a notification to the user terminal 200 of the requester indicating that there has been a change in the sitter and information about the alternative sitter.

[0043] As described above, even when a situation occurs where a sitter cancels immediately before the reserved date and time of the requester, an alternative sitter can be quickly determined, and the alternative sitter can be assigned in a fair and objective manner that meets the reservation conditions, regardless of the rule of thumb, realizing a friendly and beneficial mechanism for both the protector who is the requester and the sitter.

[0044] FIG. 8 is an example of a flowchart showing a process for performing health management of a sitter who takes care of children according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] These days, the forms of using sitters have become diversified. For users, there are more options for usage plans and fee plans, and there is a need for a simple and highly transparent user-friendly service. On the other hand, for sitters, due to the increase in high-burden childcare such as late-night childcare and overnight childcare, there is a need for health management. Regarding the service, in the server terminal 100, as operator data 2000, store the fee information of the sitter service provided by the operator (including by time period, by option, etc.). For example, as the childcare fee, set the fee for the time period from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (2500 yen / hour) and the fee for the time period from 6:00 pm to 8:00 am (2800 yen / hour), make the minimum usage of 2 hours an essential requirement, and store as a program the rule of adding fees in 15-minute units after a predetermined time has passed as the extended fee. Also, it is possible to store option fees such as the option of a sitter nomination fee (300 yen). As a result, the user who is a guardian can have the fee automatically calculated by selecting the usage time, options, etc. on a predetermined screen of the user terminal 200, so the fee can be confirmed in advance. Also, when using, as will be described later, since the server terminal 100 can manage the check-in and check-out times of the sitter to the designated place, the information processing unit 132 can total the actual usage time, calculate the fee according to the usage time, and present it to the user. Thereby, a fee plan is set for each sitter business operator, and the fee aggregation is also automatically calculated according to the usage time in a fair way, so the service can be used with confidence. Also, for the business operator side, accounting processing can be performed based on the calculated fee without the load of fee calculation, so the service can be smoothly operated. Hereinafter, a health management method in the case where a sitter performs long-term childcare such as overnight childcare will be described.

[0046] First, when the sitter arrives at the childcare location designated by the user who is the protector, the sitter terminal 300 transmits entry information such as the entry location and entry time from the sitter terminal 300 to the server terminal 100 via a method such as reading a QR code (registered trademark) by inputting the reservation code presented to the user terminal 200. As the process of step S301, the information reception unit 131 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 receives the entry information from the sitter terminal 300 via the communication unit 110. Here, the information reception unit 131 can also receive the above entry information main process from the user terminal 200. The information processing unit 132 stores the received entry information (for example, information regarding the entry location and entry time) in the user data storage unit 121 and / or the operator data storage unit 122 of the storage unit 120 as user data 1000 and / or as operator data 2000 (associated with the target sitter).

[0047] Subsequently, as the process of step S302, the information processing unit 132 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 refers to the stored entry information and checks whether a preset predetermined period (for example, 3 hours, 6 hours, etc.) has elapsed since the entry time included in the entry information. If the predetermined period has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S303. If the predetermined period has not elapsed, after waiting, this step is executed again.

[0048] Subsequently, as the process of step S303, the information processing unit 132 checks whether it has received departure information (departure location, departure time, etc.) from the sitter terminal 300 within a predetermined period from the entry time. The departure information is transmitted from the sitter terminal 300 to the server terminal 100 when the sitter selects information indicating the end of childcare or the intention to depart, for example, on a predetermined screen of the sitter terminal 300, or when the user presses a confirmation button for information to the same effect. When the information reception unit 131 receives the departure information from the sitter terminal 300, the information processing unit 132 stores the departure information as user data 1000 and / or as operator data 2000 (associated with the target sitter) in the user data storage unit 121 and / or the operator data storage unit 122 of the storage unit 120. Here, the above departure information can also be transmitted from the user terminal 200 to the server terminal 100. The information processing unit 132 can check whether the sitter has departed within a predetermined period from the entry time by referring to the stored departure information. When the information processing unit 132 confirms the sitter's departure after the predetermined period has elapsed from the entry time, the processing ends in this step. When the information processing unit 132 does not confirm the sitter's departure after the predetermined period has elapsed from the entry time, it proceeds to the next step.

[0049] Subsequently, as the process of step S304, the information processing unit 132 transmits an alert to the sitter terminal 300 indicating that a predetermined period has elapsed from the entry time. Alternatively, the information processing unit 132 can prompt the sitter to depart or take a break as an alert. Thus, as this system, it is possible to fairly and objectively perform the health management of the sitter through the entry and departure information such as the sitter's entry and departure times, and perform highly transparent health management.

[0050] As described above, the embodiments according to the invention have been explained, but these can be implemented in various other forms, and can be implemented with various omissions, substitutions, and changes. These embodiments, variations, and omissions, substitutions, and changes are included in the technical scope of the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Symbols

[0051] 1 System 100 server terminal, 110 communication unit, 120 storage unit, 130 control unit, 200 user terminal, 300 sitter terminal, NW network

Claims

1. A method for supporting matching between a user who is a parent of a child and a sitter who provides childcare for the child, comprising: The server terminal is Accepts sitter search requests, Refer to the parent's booking information, View sitter information for multiple sitters, A method for determining a sitter that matches the reservation information.

2. 10. The method of claim 1, The search request is received from a business terminal of a business that mediates the matching between the user and the sitter.

3. 10. The method of claim 1, The method, wherein the reservation information includes information regarding the parent's reservation conditions.

4. 4. The method of claim 3, The conditions include at least one of the date and time of the sitter's dispatch, the dispatch location, and the sitter's background and qualifications.

5. 10. The method of claim 1, A method of sending a notification to the determined sitter inquiring whether or not to accept the match with the parent, and receiving an acceptance or rejection of the notification from the sitter.

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