Reservation management system, reservation management server, and program

Abstract

This invention provides a reservation management system, a reservation management server, and a program that enable easy reservation management based on various usage conditions. [Solution] A reservation management system for managing reservations for equipment, comprising a reservation management server 10 and a terminal device 20, wherein the reservation management server 10 receives a reservation request from the terminal device 20 specifying the equipment, usage method, and reservation date and time, determines whether the request satisfies the reservation conditions held in association with the restricted object related to the specified equipment or usage method, and sets the reservation related to the reservation request when it determines that the reservation conditions are satisfied.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a reservation management system, a reservation management server, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, organizations that manage facilities such as community centers and their ancillary facilities (hereinafter collectively referred to as facilities), such as local governments, have introduced reservation management systems so that the use reservations of these facilities can be made via the Internet.

[0003] In such reservation management, it is required to manage not only the facilities but also the services provided using the facilities. For example, local governments may provide services related to child-rearing in cooperation with nurseries, health centers, etc., and reservation management is also required for such services.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004] [[ID=2"]]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] On the other hand, among residents who wish to use facilities, various conditions for reservations are required, such as not causing user bias due to differences in the accessibility of facilities due to differences in the residential addresses of users, etc. This is the current situation.

[0006] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system for reservation of interviews with residents of care facilities, etc., which is a system for preventing bias in interviews reserved for specific residents.

[0007] However, conventional reservation management systems for facilities did not take into account setting usage conditions for each of the diverse combinations of facilities and the services provided there.

[0008] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of its objectives is to provide a reservation management system, a reservation management server, and a program that can easily perform reservation management based on the setting of various usage conditions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One aspect of the present invention, which solves the problems of the above-mentioned conventional example, is a reservation management system for managing reservations for equipment, comprising a reservation management server and a terminal device communicatively connected to the reservation management server, wherein the reservation management server comprises: usage mode holding means for holding information representing the usage mode of equipment; condition holding means for holding reservation conditions determined regardless of the equipment or usage mode; restriction holding means for associating and holding restriction targets, which include information identifying at least one of the equipment and the usage mode, with the reservation conditions held by the condition holding means; and determination means for receiving a reservation request from the terminal device specifying equipment, usage mode, and reservation date and time, and determining whether the request satisfies the reservation conditions held by the restriction holding means in association with the restriction targets related to the specified equipment or usage mode, wherein if the determination means determines that the reservation conditions are satisfied, the reservation related to the reservation request is set. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to easily manage reservations based on the setting of various usage conditions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram illustrating an example of a reservation management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a configuration database used by a reservation management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a reservation database used by a reservation management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a condition database used by a reservation management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a restriction database used by a reservation management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a functional block diagram showing an example configuration of a reservation management server according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This flowchart illustrates an example of the operation of a reservation management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The reservation management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention basically includes a reservation management server 10 and a terminal device 20 used by the user, as illustrated in Figure 1. The reservation management server 10 and the terminal device 20 are connected to each other via a communication means such as the Internet.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1 as an example, the reservation management server 10 is configured to include a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13.

[0014] Here, the control unit 11 is a program control device such as a CPU, and operates according to a program stored in the memory unit 12. In one example of this embodiment, the control unit 11 associates and maintains a restricted object that includes information identifying at least one of the equipment and the usage pattern with the reservation conditions that are defined regardless of the equipment and the usage pattern, and receives a reservation request from the terminal device 20 specifying the equipment, the usage pattern and the reservation date and time, and determines whether the request satisfies the reservation conditions associated with the restricted object related to the specified equipment or usage pattern. Based on the result of this determination, the control unit 11 then decides whether or not to set a reservation based on the reservation request. The operation of this control unit 11 will be described in detail later.

[0015] The storage unit 12 includes memory devices and disk devices. In this embodiment, the storage unit 12 holds a program executed by the control unit 11. The storage unit 12 also operates as the work memory for the control unit 11. This program may be provided on a computer-readable, non-temporary recording medium and installed in the storage unit 12.

[0016] Furthermore, in one example of this embodiment, the storage unit 12 stores an equipment database listing the equipment subject to reservation, a settings database holding information that identifies the equipment, its usage pattern, and reservation date and time, a reservation database holding reservation information, a reservation conditions database holding reservation condition settings, and a restriction database holding reservation restriction settings based on reservation conditions.

[0017] The communication unit 13 is a network interface and sends various information to terminal devices 20 and the like via a network or other communication means, according to instructions input from the control unit 11. The communication unit 13 also outputs information received from terminal devices 20 via a network or other communication means to the control unit 11.

[0018] Here, examples of the contents of various databases stored in the storage unit 12 will be described. The facility database associates facility identification information with a facility name and the like. The setting database holds at least one piece of reservation frame information (hereinafter referred to as reservation frame information) that associates information for specifying a facility, information for specifying a usage mode, and information for specifying a reservable date and time with each other. Unique reservation frame identification information is associated with each reservation frame information and stored in this setting database.

[0019] For example, in this setting database, as illustrated in FIG. 2, for each unique reservation frame identification information, information for specifying a usage mode (usage mode identification information), facility identification information for specifying a facility, and date and time specifying information for specifying a reservable date and time are associated with each other and stored.

[0020] Here, the usage mode is selected from among previously enumerated usage mode candidates, and unique usage mode identification information is set in advance for each usage mode candidate. Specifically, when usage mode candidates such as "temporary childcare", "parenting class", "maternity and child handbook delivery"... are enumerated, the reservation management server 10 associates "b001": "temporary childcare" "b002": "parenting class" ... and stores the usage mode candidates while associating unique usage mode identification information (a character string starting with "b" in the above example) with each of them.

[0021] In addition, the reservable date and time includes date information for specifying a date and time zone information for specifying a time zone. At least one of this date information and time zone information may be information selected from among types separately enumerated in advance as date and time type information. For example, as information on the time zone, information such as "morning", "afternoon", "09:00 to 12:00"... is enumerated, unique date and time type identification information is associated and stored, and the date and time information included in the frame information may be specified by the date or time zone specified by this date and time type identification information. As an example, in advance as date and time type information, "AM": Date and time type identification information = "t001", "Afternoon": Date and time type identification information = "t002", "09:00 to 12:00": Date and time type identification information = "t003", ... Set it up as follows, and as information to identify the available dates and times for a particular reservation slot, Date: 2024 / 10 / 01, Time zone = Date / time type identification information: "t001" You can also set it up like this. In this example, it will be set to indicate a reservation slot for the "morning" of October 1, 2024.

[0022] Furthermore, the reservation slots subject to reservation include information that identifies the equipment, information that identifies the manner of use, and date and time identification information that identifies the dates and times when reservations are possible. The reservation management server 10 receives information from the administrator that defines a type of reservation slot in advance, which is a part of the reservation slot information (for example, the part of the date and time identification information excluding the day), and stores it in the settings database in association with the reservation slot type identification information.

[0023] The reservation database is a database that holds reservation information. Specifically, as illustrated in Figure 3, it associates reservation identification information unique to each reservation, reservation slot identification information that identifies the reservation slot, and information that identifies the user who made the reservation (referred to as user identification information).

[0024] As illustrated in Figure 4, the reservation condition database associates a unique condition identification information (X) for each reservation condition with condition information (C) that represents the condition and information (parameters: P) related to the criteria for judging the condition information.

[0025] Here, condition information (C) is, for example, a condition regarding the number of reservations. "Once a day" (referred to as condition identification information "i001" in Figure 4), "Twice a week," but with "Monday as the starting point (week division)" (referred to as condition identification information "i003" in Figure 4). ... The number of reservations may also be determined by the number of reservations that have not yet been completed (the number of reservations awaiting completion): If the "number of pending reservations" is less than "3", however, reservations for that day will be considered to have been made at "17:00 on the day of implementation" (in Figure 4, this is referred to as the condition identification information "i009"). Conditional information such as the above may also be included.

[0026] As illustrated in Figure 5, the restriction database associates unique restriction identification information with restricted target information (D) that identifies the object of the restriction and condition identification information (X) that identifies the conditions for the object of the restriction.

[0027] Here, the restricted information is information that represents the subject to which the conditions identified by the corresponding condition identification information should be imposed, and includes, for example, information that identifies a reservation slot (which may be reservation slot identification information or information that identifies a group of reservation slots associated with multiple reservation slot identification information), or information relating to any combination thereof, including at least one of the usage pattern identification information.

[0028] In the example in Figure 5, the restriction identified by restriction identification information "j001" is shown as an example in which the reservation slot type identification information "a001" and "a002" are set as the restricted targets for condition identification information "i001" ("1 time" per "day"), and an example in which the usage type "b002" (childcare class) is set as the restricted target for condition identification information "i002" ("2 times" per "day") (a condition based on the number of reservations related to the same usage type within a specified period).

[0029] Next, the operation of the control unit 11 of the reservation management server 10 in this embodiment will be described. The control unit 11 in this embodiment operates according to the program stored in the storage unit 12, thereby realizing a configuration that functionally includes a setting processing unit 31, a request acceptance unit 32, a determination unit 33, a registration unit 34, and a notification unit 35, as illustrated in Figure 6.

[0030] The configuration processing unit 31 configures the equipment database, configuration database, reservation database, reservation condition database, and restriction database stored in the storage unit 12 according to instructions input from the administrator of the reservation management server 10 (for example, according to instructions input from a terminal device 20 operated by the administrator).

[0031] In one example of this embodiment, the reservation management server 10 is managed by a local government official, and in response to the official's operations, the control unit 11 acts as a setting processing unit 31 and registers information about the facilities owned by the local government into the equipment database.

[0032] The configuration processing unit 31 also receives information on usage patterns from the administrator, associates unique usage pattern identification information with each of the input usage patterns, and stores them in the storage unit 12 as candidate usage patterns.

[0033] The configuration processing unit 31 further registers reservation slot information, etc., in the configuration database based on instructions from the administrator. As already mentioned, in one example of this embodiment, the administrator lists information such as "AM," "PM," "09:00 to 12:00," etc., as date and time type information in advance, and stores each of them in the storage unit 12, associating them with unique date and time type identification information. In addition, as reservation slot types, Equipment = "c001", Usage Pattern = "b001", Date and Time Identification Information = Date and Time Type is "t001" The administrator accepts such settings and associates them with unique reservation slot type identifiers. Reservation slot type identification information: a001: Equipment = "c001", Usage type = "b001", Date and time specification information = Date and time type is "t001" This data is then stored in the memory unit 12.

[0034] The configuration processing unit 31 then registers reservation slot information, which is the unit in which users reserve equipment, into the configuration database, in accordance with the administrator's instructions. Specifically, the administrator who sets up the reservation slot information inputs information that identifies the equipment, information that identifies the usage pattern, and information that identifies the date and time when the equipment can be reserved when used in that usage pattern into the configuration processing unit 31, and instructs the configuration processing unit 31 to register it as reservation slot information in the configuration database. The configuration processing unit 31 registers the reservation slot information in accordance with these instructions, as illustrated in Figure 2. As already mentioned, the reservation slot information may be partially determined using a reservation slot type, and the remaining information may be entered and registered.

[0035] In this embodiment, the reservation management server 10 defines the reservation slots that can be reserved using this reservation slot information. Therefore, users making reservations select one of the reservation slots registered here to make a reservation. In other words, users specify the equipment (facility, etc.) and the service (usage method) to be performed there, and then specify the date and time of implementation to make a reservation.

[0036] The configuration processing unit 31 also configures the reservation conditions database and the restriction database upon receiving instructions from the administrator. The configuration processing unit 31 accepts the reservation conditions from the administrator and registers the reservation conditions in the reservation conditions database. Here, the reservation conditions are determined regardless of the equipment or usage pattern, and may be determined, for example, by the number of reservations per user per period or the current number of reservations.

[0037] In other words, the administrator may set reservation conditions that limit the number of reservations a user can make per day. Specifically, the condition related to the condition identification information "i001" illustrated in Figure 4 indicates that the maximum number of reservations a user can make per day is 1. With this setting, if there are multiple reservation slots α, β, ... associated with this condition, and a user A has already made one reservation in reservation slot α, then any reservation request for reservation slot β on the same day, even if it is for a different time slot, will be rejected.

[0038] The administrator may also limit the number of reservations a user can make per week. Specifically, the condition related to the condition identification information "i003" illustrated in Figure 4 indicates that the maximum number of reservations a user can make per week is 2. With this setting, if there are multiple reservation slots α, β, γ, δ… associated with this condition, for example, if user A makes a reservation in reservation slot α on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, user A will not be able to make reservations in reservation slots β and γ on Thursday, October 3, 2024 and Friday, October 4, 2024, respectively (such reservation requests will be rejected). However, if user A makes reservations in reservation slots α and β on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 and Thursday, October 3, 2024, user A's reservation request for reservation slot δ on Monday, October 7, 2024, the following week, will be allowed.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the start day of the week (week break) can be set as a parameter. For example, if Wednesday is set as the start day of the week, even if user A makes a reservation in reservation slot α on 2024 / 10 / 1 (Tuesday), if user A requests reservations in reservation slots β and γ on 2024 / 10 / 3 (Thursday) and 2024 / 10 / 4 (Friday), respectively, these requests will be accepted. The same settings apply when limiting the number of reservations per month or per year.

[0040] Furthermore, when restricting reservations based on the current number of reservations, a condition such as "the number of pending reservations is less than 3" can be set (this corresponds to the condition identification information "i009" exemplified in Figure 4). With this restriction based on the current number of reservations, it is possible to set a parameter to determine when a reserved service is considered to have been performed (the timing of when it becomes completed).

[0041] For example, if the timing for completion is set to "17:00 on the reservation date," then for reservation slots α, β, γ, δ… (each with reservation dates and times between 2024 / 10 / 1 and 2024 / 10 / 4) associated with this condition identification information "i009," if user A who has reserved reservation slots α, β, and γ requests to reserve reservation slot δ before 17:00 on 2024 / 10 / 1, that reservation request will be rejected. On the other hand, even if the reservation date and time for reservation slot α is 18:00 on 2024 / 10 / 1, after 17:00 on 2024 / 10 / 1, user A who has reserved reservation slots α, β, and γ will be allowed to reserve reservation slot δ.

[0042] The configuration processing unit 31 further configures a restriction database that indicates which type of reservation each reservation condition set by the administrator as in the example above should be associated with.

[0043] For example, if the administrator instructs the setting processing unit 31 to impose the reservation condition ("once per day") of the condition identification information "i001" on reservation slots set based on reservation slot types whose reservation slot type identification information is "a001" and "a002", the setting processing unit 31 will record the condition identification information "i001" as the condition and the restricted information as reservation slot type identification information "a001, a002", associating them with each other, as illustrated in Figure 5.

[0044] Similarly, the setting processing unit 31 may also set the same condition identification information "i001" as a condition and separately set the restricted information as the reservation slot identification information "f004" (the second entry "j002" in Figure 5). In this way, according to this embodiment, the reservation conditions are predetermined independently of the restricted items, and the restricted items can be selected and set, so a high degree of flexibility in setting conditions is possible, and reservation management can be performed based on the setting of various usage conditions.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the restrictions are not limited to being set on a per-reservation slot basis. For example, the setting processing unit 31 may group multiple reservation slots together, associate reservation slot group identification information with this reservation slot group and store it (for example in the setting database), and record this reservation slot group identification information as restricted information, associating it with condition identification information and recording it in the restriction database. In this example, the reservation conditions identified by the associated condition identification information will be imposed on the multiple reservation slots identified by the reservation slot group identification information.

[0046] Furthermore, the restrictions may also apply to usage patterns, etc. For example, if there are usage patterns that should be subject to certain reservation conditions regardless of the equipment or date and time, the setting processing unit 31, in response to instructions from the administrator, records usage pattern identification information that identifies such usage patterns as restricted information, associating it with condition identification information, in the restriction database.

[0047] The request receiving unit 32 receives reservation requests from terminal devices 20 operated by users, etc., via the network. Specifically, the request receiving unit 32 receives access from terminal devices 20 and authenticates the operator of terminal devices 20. This authentication can employ various widely known authentication methods, such as authentication using a predetermined username and password.

[0048] If the request acceptance unit 32 successfully authenticates the operator, it provides the terminal device 20 with an interface screen for accepting the reservation.

[0049] As an example, the request receiving unit 32 displays a list of candidate usage modes and waits for the operator to make a selection. The operator then selects one of the candidate usage modes and inputs user identification information that identifies the user in that usage mode. One of the distinctive features of this embodiment is that the operator and the user may be different people. That is, for example, the operator may be a parent or guardian, and the user may be their child.

[0050] When the request receiving unit 32 receives the selection of a candidate usage mode along with the input of user identification information, it searches the settings database for reservation slot information that includes information identifying the selected usage mode and obtains a list of such slots.

[0051] The request receiving unit 32 also refers to the reservation database to obtain reservation slot identification information for which a reservation has been made, and deletes the reservation slot information identified by the obtained reservation slot identification information from the list obtained above and updates it (or updates the list by associating information indicating that a reservation has been made). The request receiving unit 32 then presents the updated list to the user's terminal device 20. Here, if the request receiving unit 32 associates information to the effect that a reservation has been made rather than removing the reservation slot information for which a reservation has been made, it displays the reservation slot in a manner that indicates that a reservation is no longer possible (for example, by graying it out).

[0052] When the operator of the terminal device 20 selects at least one of the presented reservation slots (excluding those already reserved) and requests a reservation, the request receiving unit 32 receives the reservation request from the terminal device 20 and outputs the reservation request to the determination unit 33.

[0053] When the decision unit 33 receives a reservation request along with information identifying the reservation slot, it refers to the restriction database to search for the reservation conditions related to the reservation slot information. If there are reservation conditions associated with the reservation slot information, the decision unit 33 retrieves those reservation conditions.

[0054] The determination unit 33 further extracts information that identifies the equipment and information that identifies the usage pattern included in the reservation slot information accepted along with the reservation request. It then refers to the restriction database to search for reservation conditions related to the information that identifies the equipment and reservation conditions related to the information that identifies the usage pattern. If there are reservation conditions associated with either of these, the determination unit 33 acquires those reservation conditions.

[0055] The determination unit 33 then refers to the acquired reservation conditions and the reservation information stored in the reservation database that is associated with the user identification information acquired from the terminal device 20, and determines whether the reservation request satisfies the acquired reservation conditions.

[0056] The determination unit 33 then instructs the registration unit 34 to register the reservation based on the reservation request when it determines that all acquired reservation conditions are satisfied. The determination unit 33 also instructs the notification unit 35 to notify the user that the reservation cannot be made when it determines that any of the acquired reservation conditions are not satisfied.

[0057] The registration unit 34, in accordance with instructions from the judgment unit 33, issues unique reservation identification information and registers in the reservation database, along with reservation slot identification information that identifies the reservation slot accepted by the request acceptance unit 32, and information that identifies the user who made the reservation (referred to as user identification information), in association with the reservation identification information.

[0058] Upon receiving instructions from the decision-making unit 33, the notification unit 35 notifies the terminal device 20 that made the reservation request that the reservation cannot be made.

[0059] [Operation] The reservation management system 1 of this embodiment basically has the above configuration and operates as shown in the following example. In the following example, it is assumed that the administrator of the reservation management server 10 has configured each database as follows.

[0060] In other words, the reservation management server 10 maintains a list of possible usage types, including "temporary childcare," "parenting classes," "issuance of maternal and child health handbook," etc. The reservation management server 10 also maintains a list of reservation slot types. Reservation slot type "a001": "Facility 1 (Equipment identification information: c001)", Usage type "Temporary childcare (Usage type identification information: b001)", "Morning (Date and time type identification information (t001))" Reservation slot type "a002": "Facility 1 (Equipment identification information: c001)", Usage type "Temporary childcare (Usage type identification information: b001)", "Afternoon (Date and time type identification information (t002))" ... In this way, the system receives and retains information from the administrator that specifies only the part of the date and time information that excludes the day.

[0061] In this example, the reservation management server 10 stores reservation slot information set using this reservation slot type in the settings database. As illustrated in Figure 2, this reservation slot information associates reservation slot identification information with information that identifies the equipment, information that identifies the usage pattern, and information that identifies the date and time when the equipment can be reserved when used in that usage pattern. Figure 2 shows an example where reservation slot identification information "f001" is associated with reservation slot type identification information "a001" as the equipment, and the date and time specification information includes the day information = "2024 / 10 / 01". To consider the case where reservation slots are set without using reservation slot types, this settings database may extract some of the equipment identification information, usage pattern identification information, and date and time specification information set for reservation slots set using reservation slot types, along with the reservation slot type identification information, and combine them with the missing information separately entered by the administrator before registering. An example of this is shown in Figure 2.

[0062] Furthermore, the reservation management server 10 configures the reservation condition database and the restriction database based on the administrator's instructions. Here, the reservation conditions stored in the reservation condition database are as exemplified in Figure 4, (1) Condition identification information "i001": The maximum number of reservations per user per day is 1. (2) Condition identification information "i002": The maximum number of reservations per user per day is 2. ... (9) Condition identification information "i009": The number of reservations awaiting execution is 3 or less, and the execution will be considered completed as of 17:00 on the day. ... The following conditions will be set.

[0063] Furthermore, the restriction database includes, as illustrated in Figure 5, (1) Restriction identification information "j001": Condition identification information "i001": The restricted target is "a001" or "a002" (2) Restriction identification information "j002": Condition identification information "i001": Usage type identification information "b003" (3) Restriction identification information "j003": Condition identification information "i009": Equipment identification information "c001" ... In this way, information that identifies the target of the restriction that should be associated with the condition identification information is set in association with it.

[0064] The reservation management server 10 receives an authentication request from the operator's terminal device 20 via the network and authenticates the operator. Upon successful authentication, the reservation management server 10 provides the terminal device 20 with an interface screen for searching for reservation slots. This interface screen is, for example, a web page, and the reservation management server 10 functions as a web server to present this interface screen to the terminal device 20.

[0065] The reservation management server 10 then initiates the process illustrated in Figure 7, prompting the operator of the terminal device 20 to search for available reservation slots (S1: Reservation slot presentation). As a specific example, as already mentioned, the reservation management server 10 displays a list of candidate usage modes and asks the operator to make a selection. The reservation management server 10 also requests the input of user identification information to identify the user. Once a candidate usage mode is selected and the user identification information is entered, the reservation management server 10 searches the configuration database for reservation slot information containing the information identifying the selected usage mode, retrieves a list of such slots, and presents it.

[0066] Next, when the operator of the terminal device 20 selects at least one reservation slot from the presented list and requests a reservation, the terminal device 20 sends a reservation request that includes the entered user identification information and information that identifies the selected reservation slot. When the reservation management server 10 receives the reservation request from the terminal device 20 (S2), it refers to the restriction database and searches for the reservation conditions related to the reservation slot information identified by the information included in the reservation request (S3).

[0067] For example, if the operator of terminal device 20 selects a reservation slot with reservation slot identification information "f001" and requests a reservation from user A, the reservation management server 10, upon receiving this reservation request, retrieves reservation conditions that restrict this reservation slot identification information, or reservation slot identification information "a001" related to the reservation slot identification information "f001," by referring to the restriction database. In this example, condition identification information "i001," etc., that restricts the reservation slot identification information "a001" will be retrieved.

[0068] The reservation management server 10 also searches the restriction database for reservation conditions related to the equipment "c001" and usage pattern "b001" associated with the reservation slot identification information "f001". In the example above, since the reservation condition of condition identification information "i009" is set for equipment "c001", the reservation management server 10 ultimately retrieves the reservation conditions of condition identification information "i001" and "i009".

[0069] The reservation management server 10 then determines whether each of the acquired reservation conditions is met by referring to the reservation information associated with the user identification information acquired from the terminal device 20.

[0070] Specifically, the reservation management server 10 selects one of the acquired reservation conditions (the one that has not been selected) (hereinafter, the selected reservation condition will be referred to as the "focus condition"), and retrieves reservation information for the period related to this focus condition from the reservation database (S4).

[0071] For example, if the focus condition relates to the condition identification information "i001", the reservation condition is "the maximum number of reservations per user per day is 1". Therefore, the reservation management server 10 refers to the date and time specification information included in the reservation slot information related to the reservation request (for example, 2024 / 10 / 01) and searches the reservation database for reservations for user A (the user identified by the user identification information included in the reservation request) on that day, 2024 / 10 / 01.

[0072] The reservation management server 10 then uses the information found through the search to determine whether the focus condition is satisfied (S5). If it determines that the focus condition is satisfied (S5: Yes), and there are any unselected reservation conditions, it returns to step S4 and continues processing. Once there are no more unselected reservation conditions (when the determination in step S5 has been made for all acquired reservation conditions), it registers the reservation in the reservation database based on the reservation request (S6).

[0073] As an example, if we assume that there was initially no reservation for user A, then both the reservation conditions of condition identification information "i001" and the reservation conditions of condition identification information "i009" are satisfied. Therefore, the reservation management server 10 registers the service for user A, using facility "c001" = facility 1, with usage type "b001" = temporary childcare, in the reservation database.

[0074] Furthermore, if the reservation management server 10 determines in step S5 that the attention condition is not satisfied (S5: No), it notifies the terminal device 20 that made the reservation request that the reservation cannot be made (S7).

[0075] For example, if the operator of terminal device 20 has already made a reservation for the above-mentioned reservation slot, and then requests a reservation for user A using reservation slot identification information "f002" (equipment "c001", usage type "b001", date and time specification information: 2024 / 10 / 01, afternoon), the reservation management server 10 determines, based on the condition identification information "i001", that at least one reservation has already been set for user A on the same day, and therefore the reservation management server 10 determines that the reservation conditions are not met and notifies the operator of terminal device 20 that the reservation cannot be made.

[0076] Furthermore, even if the operator of terminal device 20 makes a reservation for the equipment "c001", usage type "b001", and date and time specification information: 2024 / 10 / 01, morning (reservation of reservation slot identification information "f001"), and then selects reservation slot information that includes usage type "b002 (childcare class)" and date and time specification information "2024 / 10 / 01, afternoon" and requests a reservation, the reservation management server 10 will determine that the reservation conditions are not met because, in the judgment of the condition identification information "i001" related to the restriction identification information "j002", one or more reservations have already been set for user A on the same day, and will notify the operator of terminal device 20 that the reservation cannot be made.

[0077] However, this is just one example, and only the restrictions associated with the same restriction identification information may be included in the decision in step S5. In this case, if the operator of the terminal device 20 makes a reservation for reservation slot identification information "f001" and then requests a reservation for reservation slot identification information "f002", in step S4, which precedes the processing in step S5, the reservation database will be searched for reservations related to reservation slot type identification information "a001" and "a002", which are subject to restrictions under the restriction related to the requested reservation (restriction of restriction identification information "j001"). At this time, as described above, since there is a reservation for reservation slot identification information "f001" (related to reservation slot type identification information "a001"), a reservation for reservation slot identification information "f002", which is related to reservation slot type identification information "a002", cannot be made.

[0078] On the other hand, when the operator of terminal device 20 makes a reservation for reservation slot identification information "f001" and then selects reservation slot information (hereinafter referred to as reservation slot identification information "f010") that includes usage type "b002 (childcare class)" and date and time specification information "2024 / 10 / 01, afternoon" and requests a reservation, the restriction identification information "j003" that restricts this reservation request only includes usage type "b002". Therefore, in step S4, the reservation database is searched for a reservation with usage type "b002" that is restricted by the restriction (restriction of restriction identification information "j001") related to the requested reservation. At this time, the usage type of reservation slot identification information "f001" is not usage type "b002", so in step S5, it is determined that there are no other reservations on that day, and the reservation related to reservation slot identification information "f010" is registered.

[0079] [Effects of the Embodiment] According to the example of this embodiment, since the types of reservation conditions are set in advance and the objects of restriction are associated with them, even when there are many objects of restriction that should be subject to similar reservation conditions, there is no need to set reservation conditions for each object of restriction, and it becomes possible to easily manage reservations based on the setting of various usage conditions.

[0080] [Information grouping] In this embodiment, groups may be set up by combining arbitrary information such as reservation slot type identification information and usage pattern identification information.

[0081] For example, in the examples so far, the restriction identification information "j001" registered in the restriction database was set to have the restricted target as "a001" or "a002". However, these reservation slot type identification information "a001" and "a002" could be set as a group, a unique identification information "z001" could be issued for that group and associated with it, and stored in the storage unit 12. In the restriction database, the identification information "z001" for this group could then be set as the restricted target related to the restriction identification information "j001".

[0082] Similarly, regarding usage patterns, multiple usage patterns may be set as groups, and it may also be possible to set up groups for equipment.

[0083] Furthermore, the groups may consist of different types of information. For example, reservation slot type information "a001" and usage pattern "b002" may be grouped together.

[0084] As this example shows, when multiple common reservation conditions need to be imposed on multiple restricted items, it becomes possible to simplify the settings by grouping and handling the types of reservation slots and usage patterns that are subject to restrictions.

[0085] [Cancel reservation] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the reservation management server 10 may, upon receiving instructions from the terminal device 20, retrieve and provide information on reservations previously registered by the operator of the terminal device 20 from the reservation database. In this embodiment, if the operator of the terminal device 20 gives instructions to cancel at least some of the provided reservations, the reservation management server 10, upon receiving these instructions, deletes the reservations subject to cancellation from the reservation database.

[0086] Alternatively, if the reservation management server 10 receives instructions to cancel a reservation, it updates the reservation database by associating the reservation in question with information indicating that it has been "canceled." In this example, the reservation management server 10 may perform the search excluding canceled reservations in the process of step S4 described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1 Reservation management system, 10 Reservation management server, 11 Control unit, 12 Storage unit, 13 Communication unit, 20 Terminal device, 31 Setting processing unit, 32 Request acceptance unit, 33 Judgment unit, 34 Registration unit, 35 Notification unit.

Claims

1. A reservation management system for managing reservations for facilities, It includes a reservation management server and a terminal device that is communicatively connected to this reservation management server. The aforementioned reservation management server is A means for maintaining usage patterns that holds information representing the usage patterns of the equipment, A condition holding means for holding reservation conditions set regardless of the equipment or usage method, A restriction holding means that associates and holds a restriction target, which includes information that identifies at least one of the equipment and the manner of use, with the reservation conditions held by the condition holding means, The terminal device accepts a reservation request specifying equipment, usage method, and reservation date and time, and includes a determination means that determines whether the request satisfies the reservation conditions held by the restriction holding means in relation to the restricted object relating to the specified equipment or usage method, A reservation management system that, if it determines that the reservation conditions are met as a result of the determination by the aforementioned determination means, sets up the reservation related to the reservation request.

2. The terminal device is connected in a way that allows it to communicate, A means for maintaining usage patterns that holds information representing the usage patterns of the equipment, A condition holding means for holding reservation conditions set regardless of the equipment or usage method, A restriction holding means that associates and holds a restriction target, which includes information that identifies at least one of the equipment and the manner of use, with the reservation conditions held by the condition holding means, The terminal device accepts a reservation request specifying equipment, usage method, and reservation date and time, and includes a determination means that determines whether the request satisfies the reservation conditions held by the restriction holding means in relation to the restricted object relating to the specified equipment or usage method, If the determination by the aforementioned determination means determines that the reservation conditions are met, the reservation management server sets up the reservation related to the reservation request.

3. A reservation management server according to claim 2, The aforementioned reservation conditions are based on the number of reservations made within a predetermined period, as determined by the reservation management server.

4. A reservation management server according to claim 2, The aforementioned reservation conditions are based on the number of reservations for the same type of use within a predetermined period, as determined by the reservation management server.

5. A reservation management server according to claim 2, A reservation management server further includes a notification means for notifying the terminal device if, as a result of the determination by the aforementioned determination means, it is determined that the reservation conditions are not met.

6. A computer that is connected to a terminal device in a way that enables communication, Means for maintaining usage patterns that hold information representing the usage patterns of the equipment, Condition holding means for holding reservation conditions set regardless of the equipment or usage method, A restriction holding means that associates and holds a restriction target, which includes information identifying at least one of the equipment and the manner of use, with the reservation conditions held by the condition holding means, and The terminal device receives a reservation request specifying the equipment, usage method, and reservation date and time, and functions as a determination means to determine whether the request satisfies the reservation conditions held by the restriction holding means in relation to the restricted object related to the specified equipment or usage method. A program that, if it determines as a result of the determination by the aforementioned determination means that the reservation conditions are met, sets up the reservation related to the reservation request.

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