Matching program, matching system, information processing device, server, and method

Abstract

The present invention provides a matching program, matching system, information processing device, server, and method that facilitate the holding of designated tournaments. [Solution] A matching program is provided that performs the following steps: receiving information on the operating location and information on at least one of either the event location or the participant location; matching the operating location and the event location based on the operating location information and the event location information, or matching the operating location and the participant location based on the operating location information and the participant location information; and, if the operating location and the event location are matched, notifying the participant terminal of information soliciting participation in the tournament at the matched operating location and event location, and, if the operating location and the participant location are matched, notifying the provider terminal of information soliciting the provision of the event location at the matched operating location and participant location.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a matching program, a matching system, an information processing apparatus, a server, and a method. In particular, the present invention relates to a matching program, a matching system, an information processing apparatus, a server, and a method related to the holding of a predetermined tournament.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been an event matching system that uses a computer to perform information processing for coordinating the holding of an event among three parties including a company, a store, and a general user. The system has a website accessed from the terminals of the first user (a company), the second user (a store), and the third user (a general user). The website includes a server device and has functions such as: a function for each of the three users to register user information; a registration function for the first and second users to register event information including conditions related to event participation; a search function for the third user to search for event information by registration; an application function for the third user to apply to participate in an event indicated by the event information obtained as a search result; a determination function for comparing the registered event information with the user information of the three parties and determining whether the conditions related to event participation among the three parties match; and a function for determining the holding of an event for which the conditions match as a result of the determination and notifying the three parties of the information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] While the event matching system described in Patent Document 1 can streamline the coordination of planning and holding events such as designated competitions, if the number of participants wishing to take part in an event does not reach the minimum number required for the event to be held, the event will not be held.

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a matching program, a matching system, an information processing device, a server, and a method that facilitate the holding of a predetermined tournament. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a matching program for causing a computer equipped with a processor and memory to perform matching processing related to a tournament, the matching program comprising the steps of: receiving operational location information from an operator who wishes to operate a tournament regarding the operational location where the operator wishes to operate the tournament, and receiving at least one of the following pieces of information: venue information from a provider who wishes to provide a venue for the tournament regarding the venue where the tournament wishes to be held, or participation location information from a participant who wishes to participate in the tournament regarding the venue where the participant wishes to participate; matching operational locations and venues based on the operational location information and venue information, or matching operational locations and participation locations based on the operational location information and participation location information; and in the matching step, if an operational location and venue are matched, notifying at least the participant terminal of the participant of information soliciting participation in the tournament at the matched operational location and venue, and if an operational location and venue are matched, notifying at least the provider terminal of information soliciting the provision of venues at the matched operational location and venue. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The matching program, matching system, information processing device, server, and method according to the present invention can provide a matching program, matching system, information processing device, server, and method that facilitates the holding of a predetermined competition. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a functional configuration diagram of the system according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a data configuration diagram of each storage unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart of the processing in the system according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart of a modified example of the processing in the system according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart of a modified example of the processing in the system according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [Embodiment] <Overview of System 1 Configuration> Figure 1 shows an overview of the system according to this embodiment. Specifically, Figure 1(a) shows an overview of the configuration of system 1 according to this embodiment, and Figure 1(b) shows a diagram to explain the overview of matching in system 1.

[0010] The matching system according to this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "System 1") comprises a server 3 that performs matching in tournaments such as game tournaments, a provider terminal 10 for a provider that provides a venue for the tournament, an operator terminal 12 for an operator that manages the tournament, and a participant terminal 14 for participants taking part in the tournament. The server 3, provider terminal 10, operator terminal 12, and participant terminal 14 are each connected via a communication network 5 to enable bidirectional communication.

[0011] Here, "provider" refers to the person (natural person or legal entity, etc.) who provides the venue for the competition, such as a local government, a manager of a commercial facility, or the manager of a designated shop. "Operator" refers to the person (natural person or legal entity, etc.) who is in charge of running the competition, i.e., the organizer (the person who hosts the competition). "Participant" refers to the person (natural person or group of natural persons, etc.) who participates in the competition. In this description, "provider" includes those who could become providers, "operator" includes those who could become operators, and "participant" includes those who could become participants.

[0012] In System 1, Server 3 receives predetermined instructions from providers, operators, and / or participants and proceeds with matching and other processes. In this case, System 1 may be a server-client type matching system. In addition, in System 1, a predetermined program for matching for tournaments, etc., may be installed on the provider terminal 10, operator terminal 12, and participant terminal 14, and matching and other processes may be executed while communicating with Server 3 as needed.

[0013] Note that Figure 1(a) shows an example where one provider terminal 10, one operator terminal 12, and one participant terminal 14 are each connected to the server 3 via the communication network 5, for the sake of simplicity in explanation. However, multiple provider terminals 10, multiple operator terminals 12, and / or multiple participant terminals 14 may each be connected to the server 3 via the communication network 5.

[0014] <Overview of System 1> System 1 is a system that matches providers who offer venues for tournaments such as game competitions, organizers who host / manage tournaments, and participants who will take part in the tournaments. System 1 accepts location information from providers, organizers, and / or participants, and performs matching based on this location information. Specifically, System 1 performs matching based on information from providers obtained via provider terminal 10 regarding venues where they wish to hold tournaments (venue information), information from organizers obtained via organizer terminal 12 regarding venues where they wish to host / manage tournaments (venue information), and / or information from participants obtained via participant terminal 14 regarding venues where they wish to participate in tournaments (participation venue information).

[0015] System 1 can also acquire one or more venue information from one or more provider terminals 10, one or more operation venue information from one or more operator terminals 12, and / or one or more participation venue information from one or more participant terminals 14. However, in the following explanation, for the sake of simplicity, unless otherwise specified, the explanation will mainly focus on the case where System 1 acquires one venue information from one provider terminal 10, one operation venue information from one operator terminal 12, and one participation venue information from one participant terminal 14, and then performs the predetermined processing.

[0016] Therefore, in System 1, for example, based on the acquired participation location information, potential needs regarding the location (or area) where participants wish to participate can be grasped. Similarly, in System 1, based on the acquired venue information, potential needs regarding the location where the provider wishes to provide (e.g., a predetermined facility, etc.), and / or based on the acquired operation location information, potential needs regarding the location (or area) where the operator wishes to operate can be grasped. Then, System 1 performs matching based on the venue information, operation location information, and / or participation location information, and notifies each of the provider terminal 10, operator terminal 12, and / or participant terminal 14 of information regarding the matching result. Further, when the holding of a predetermined event becomes possible according to the matching result, System 1 executes various processes regarding the holding of the predetermined event.

[0017] Here, the information regarding the location indicated by the venue information, operation location information, and / or participation location information may be information indicating a specific point or information indicating a specific area (a predetermined region including a specific point). System 1 pre-acquires and stores a plurality of venue information, a plurality of operation location information, and / or a plurality of participation location information from a plurality of providers, a plurality of operators, and / or a plurality of participants, respectively. Then, System 1 performs matching for determining whether a predetermined event can be held based on the venue information, operation location information, and / or participation location information. Further, System 1 may make the stored venue information, operation location information, and / or participation location information referable at any time in each of the provider terminal 10, operator terminal 12, and / or participant terminal 14.

[0018] (Overview of Matching 1: Matching Based on Two Pieces of Information) For example, the location indicated by the holding location information (which may be a location indicating a specific point) is the holding location 20, the location indicated by the operation location information (which may be an area indicating a predetermined region) is the operation location 22, and the location indicated by the participation location information (which may be an area indicating a predetermined region) is the participation location 24. And as an example, the system 1 acquires a specific piece of information from the holding location information, the operation location information, and the participation location information, identifies the location corresponding to the acquired information, and can perform matching based on the specific piece of information and at least one of the other two pieces of information excluding the specific piece of information.

[0019] That is, the system 1 acquires a specific piece of information regarding a specific one of the holding location 20, the operation location 22, and / or the participation location 24, and acquires and performs matching with one of the two pieces of information regarding the other two locations excluding the specific piece of information. And when the system 1 performs matching, it executes a process of soliciting one of the two pieces of information that was not used for matching. For example, the system 1 can perform a predetermined solicitation in each of the following patterns.

[0020] a) When the specific piece of information to be acquired is the operation location information. In this case, the system 1 receives at least one of the holding location information or the participation location information. And the system 1 performs matching based on the operation location information and the holding location information, or performs matching based on the operation location information and the participation location information.

[0021] System 1, when the operational location information and the event location information match (i.e., when there is an area where operational location 22 and event location 20 coincide (an overlapping area)), solicits information on the location of participation. For example, System 1 supplies or presents information soliciting information on the location of participation to participant terminals 14 (including information terminals of persons who are not yet participants but who may become participants; the same applies hereinafter) and designated web pages (for example, web pages operated on server 3; the same applies hereinafter), etc. In other words, it solicits participation in the tournament in the area where operational location 22 and event location 20 coincide. In this case, it also presents information indicating that there is an area where the operational location information and the event location information overlap, and information indicating that there are already persons who wish to provide a venue for the designated tournament (providers) and persons who wish to organize / operate the designated tournament (operators) in that overlapping area. This allows participants (including those who have not yet become participants; the same applies hereinafter) to confirm in advance that there are potential providers of venues where the tournament can be held and potential organizers who will host / operate the tournament within the area where venue 20 and operation venue 22 overlap. Therefore, they can understand in advance that if a participant takes part in a designated tournament within that area, that designated tournament will likely be held. Consequently, participants can decide whether or not to take part in a designated tournament after confirming whether or not their desired venue is included in that area, making it easier for them to decide to enter a designated tournament held within that area if their venue is included.

[0022] Furthermore, System 1 will solicit information on event venues when the information on operating locations and the information on participating locations match (i.e., when there is an area where operating locations 22 and participating locations 24 coincide (an overlapping area)). For example, System 1 will supply or display information soliciting information on event venues to provider terminals 10 (including information terminals of persons who are not yet providers but who may become providers; the same applies hereinafter) and designated web pages, etc. In other words, it will solicit information on tournament venues in areas where operating locations 22 and participating locations 24 coincide. In this case, it will also display information indicating that there is an area where the information on operating locations and the information on participating locations overlap, and information indicating that there are already persons who wish to host / operate a designated tournament (operators) and persons who wish to participate in a designated tournament (participants) in that overlapping area. This allows providers (including those who are not yet providers; the same applies hereinafter) to confirm in advance that potential organizers and participants of a tournament exist within the area where the operating location 22 and the participation location 24 overlap. Therefore, by providing a venue within that area, they can assure in advance that the designated tournament will be held with a high degree of certainty. Consequently, providers will find it easier to provide a venue within that area (for example, if the provider is a local government, the necessary procedures and approvals for deciding to use a facility owned by the local government as the venue for the designated tournament will be simplified).

[0023] b) When the specific piece of information to be obtained is the location of the event. In this case, System 1 receives at least one piece of information: either the venue information or the participant venue information. System 1 then matches based on either the event venue information and the venue information, or the event venue information and the participant venue information.

[0024] System 1 will solicit participation location information if the venue information and the operational location information match. The solicitation of participation location information is the same as the explanation in "a) When the specific information to be obtained is operational location information" and "when the operational location information and venue information match," so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0025] Furthermore, System 1 will solicit information on the location of the event if the venue information and the participant location information match (i.e., if there is an area where the venue 20 and the participant location 24 coincide (an overlapping area)). For example, System 1 will supply or display information soliciting information on the location of the event to the operator terminal 12 (including the information terminal of a person who is not yet an operator but could become one; the same applies hereinafter) and on a designated webpage. In other words, it will solicit operators for a tournament to be held in an area where the venue 20 and the participant location 24 coincide. In this case, it will also display information indicating that there is an area where the venue information and the participant location information overlap, and information indicating that there are already people who wish to provide a venue for a designated tournament (providers) and people who wish to participate in a designated tournament (participants) in that overlapping area. This allows organizers (including those who are not yet organizers; the same applies hereinafter) to confirm in advance that there are potential venue providers and potential participants in the tournament within the area where venue 20 and participation venue 24 overlap. Therefore, they can understand in advance that the designated tournament will be held with a high degree of certainty by participating as an organizer in that area. Consequently, organizers will find it easier to take part in the operation of the designated tournament within that area (for example, if the organizer is a tournament provider, they will know in advance that the designated tournament can be easily held as long as there is someone to host / operate the tournament, making it easier for them to volunteer to be an organizer).

[0026] c) When the specific piece of information to be obtained is information about the location of participation. In this case, System 1 receives at least one piece of information: either the operating location information or the event venue information. System 1 then matches participants based on the participating location information and the operating location information, or matches participants based on the participating location information and the event venue information.

[0027] System 1 will solicit information on the event venue if the participant venue information matches the operational venue information. The solicitation of event venue information is the same as the explanation in "a) When the specific information to be obtained is operational venue information" under "when operational venue information matches participant venue information," so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0028] Furthermore, System 1 will solicit information on the operational location if the participation location information matches the event location information. The solicitation of operational location information is the same as the explanation in "b) When the specific information to be acquired is event location information" under "When the event location information and participation location information match," so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0029] System 1 may also obtain location information from each of the participant terminals 14 of multiple participants and perform matching based on the multiple locations of participation information obtained. For example, when the number of participants reaches a predetermined threshold (for example, when a number of location information corresponding to a predetermined threshold has been obtained), System 1 will solicit venue information and operational location information and perform matching. For example, in this case, System 1 will supply or present information soliciting venue information and operational location information to the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and / or a predetermined web page, etc. This allows operators and providers to confirm in advance that a predetermined number of potential participants for the tournament at a predetermined location 24 already exist, and to know in advance that the predetermined tournament will be held with a high degree of certainty by participating as an operator and provider at that location 24. Then, System 1 will perform matching based on the venue information received via the provider terminal 10 and the operational location information received via the operator terminal 12, and one or more locations of participation information that have already been received.

[0030] (Matching Overview 2: Matching based on three pieces of information) Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1(b), for example, if the venue 20, the operational area 22, and the participation area 24 coincide, System 1 determines that it is possible to hold the designated tournament at the matching location (area; hereinafter, this may be referred to as the "Decision Area 200." In Figure 1(b), the Decision Area 200 is the area where the venue 20, the operational area 22, and the participation area 24 overlap).

[0031] Here, if at least one of the venues 20, 22, and 24 does not match (i.e., there is no match), System 1 can execute a recruitment for the location that does not match. For example, System 1 can execute a predetermined recruitment in each of the following patterns. d) If the venue 20 is a location that does not match (in this case, there is an area where the operational venue 22 and the participation venue 24 coincide (an overlapping area), but that area does not overlap with venue 20), we will solicit information on the venue. e) If the location that does not match is the operating location 22 (in this case, there is an area where the event location 20 and the participation location 24 coincide (an overlapping area), but that area does not overlap with the operating location 22), we will solicit information on the operating location. f) If the location that does not match is Participation Location 24 (in this case, there is an area where the event venue 20 and the operation venue 22 coincide (an overlapping area), but that area does not overlap with Participation Location 24), we will solicit information on the participation location.

[0032] For example, in pattern d) above (i.e., when the venue has not been decided), System 1 will solicit information on the venue. The solicitation of venue information is the same as the explanation in "a) When the specific piece of information to be obtained is information on the venue for operation" and "when the venue information for operation and the venue information for participants match," so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0033] Furthermore, in the case of pattern e) above (i.e., when the venue has not been decided), System 1 will solicit information on the venue. The solicitation of venue information is the same as the explanation in "b) When the specific piece of information to be acquired is venue information," specifically in the section "When venue information and participant venue information match," so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0034] Furthermore, in pattern f) above (i.e., when the participation location has not been decided), System 1 will solicit information on the participation location. The solicitation of information on the participation location is the same as the explanation in "a) When the specific piece of information to be obtained is information on the operating location" and "when the operating location information and the event location information match," so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0035] In System 1, for example, one or more providers can each provide venue information to System 1, allowing organizers to select the venue where they want to hold the tournament, and participants to select the venue where the tournament they want to participate in will be held. Furthermore, since System 1 stores the venue information of one or more participants who wish to participate, providers and / or organizers can understand the potential needs of participants for tournaments at a given location. As a result, in System 1, providers and organizers can hold tournaments at locations where a large number of participants have already expressed interest, thus avoiding situations where a tournament cannot be held due to not reaching the minimum number of participants. In addition, since System 1 can determine whether or not an area exists where venue 20 and participation venue 24 coincide before a given tournament is held, it becomes possible for organizers to hold a given tournament by knowing in advance that an area they are involved in exists and then expressing their desire to host / operate that tournament.

[0036] The provider terminal 10, operator terminal 12, and participant terminal 14 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "information terminals") are devices that can be operated by the provider, operator, and participant (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "users"), respectively. The information terminals may be, for example, portable information terminals such as mobile phones, smartphones, and tablets that are compatible with mobile communication systems. The information terminals may also be, for example, stationary personal computers (PCs), laptop PCs, notebook PCs, portable game consoles, home game consoles (stationary game devices), and / or dedicated game consoles. Furthermore, the communication network 5 is a mobile phone network and / or a communication network such as the Internet. The communication network 5 may also include communication networks such as wired LANs and wireless LANs. The details of System 1 according to this embodiment will be described below, but it should be noted that the names and numerical values ​​in the above and below descriptions are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these proper names and numerical values, and these proper names and numerical values ​​are not necessarily related to actual proper names and numerical values.

[0037] <Details of System 1> Figure 2 shows an example of the functional configuration of the system according to this embodiment. Figure 3 also shows an example of the data configuration of each storage section in the storage unit according to this embodiment.

[0038] [Overview of System 1 Configuration] System 1 according to this embodiment includes an information receiving unit 100 that receives predetermined information from a provider terminal 10, an operator terminal 12, and / or a participant terminal 14; a storage unit 102 that stores various types of information used in System 1; a matching control unit 120 that controls processing such as matching predetermined information related to a predetermined tournament; a notification unit 122 that notifies the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and / or the participant terminal 14 of predetermined information; and a tournament control unit 124 that controls various processes such as the execution of the tournament. Furthermore, the storage unit 102 has a provider information storage unit 104 that stores information about the provider; an operator information storage unit 106 that stores information about the operator; a participant information storage unit 108 that stores information about the participant; and a tournament information storage unit 110 that stores information about the tournament. In this embodiment, as an example, the case in which a smartphone is the information terminal will be mainly described. Furthermore, the information terminal includes at least an input unit that accepts input of predetermined information (for example, an input unit consisting of a touch panel, etc.), an output unit that outputs predetermined information (for example, a display unit that outputs various types of information, an audio output unit, a vibration unit, etc.), and a communication unit that can communicate with the server 3 (the configuration of the information terminal is not shown in the diagram).

[0039] System 1 may not only have the above-mentioned multiple components and / or functions physically in the same device or location, but some of the above-mentioned multiple components and / or functions may be installed in physically separate locations (which may be within Japan or outside Japan). In this case, each component may be connected by a communication network such as the Internet. For example, System 1 may have some of the functions of its components handled by an external server. System 1 may also be configured as one or more servers. In this case, System 1 is configured by combining an information terminal, and the components of one server and the components of other servers. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a set of predetermined components can be understood as one "information processing device," and System 1 may be formed as a set of multiple information processing devices. The way in which the multiple functions required to realize System 1 according to this embodiment are distributed to one or more hardware can be appropriately determined in consideration of the processing capacity of each hardware and / or the specifications required for System 1. Furthermore, an information terminal may have some or all of the configuration and functions of Server 3, and Server 3 may have some of the configuration and functions of the information terminal. Furthermore, the various types of information stored in the storage unit 102 may be updated based on instructions and information received via the input section of the information terminal from providers, operators, participants, and / or the business operator operating System 1, or may be updated as needed by obtaining predetermined information from a predetermined server located outside System 1. The information terminal can also be connected via wired and / or wireless communication through the communication network 5 to communicate bidirectionally with Server 3, other servers (servers different from Server 3; not shown), and / or other information terminals, etc., and can send and receive predetermined data. The same applies to Server 3.

[0040] [Details of System 1 configuration] (Information reception desk 100) The information receiving unit 100 receives predetermined information required for tournament matching from the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and / or the participant terminal 14 via the communication network 5. The predetermined information includes operational location information from operators who wish to operate the tournament, information on venues from providers who wish to provide venues for the tournament, and / or participation location information from participants who wish to participate in the tournament, regarding the venues they wish to participate in. The operational location information, venue information, and participation location information received by the information receiving unit 100 are information at a stage where at least two locations selected from the operational location, venue, and participation location have not yet been matched. In other words, the information receiving unit 100 receives operational location information that has not been matched (associated) with the venue information and / or participation location information, venue information that has not been matched (associated) with the venue information and / or participation location information, and participation location information that has not been matched (associated) with the venue information and / or participation location information. Furthermore, the required information may include provider information regarding providers, operator information regarding organizers, and / or participant information regarding participants. In addition, the required information may include tournament information regarding the tournament, and / or various information regarding the tournament and matching process. The information reception unit 100 can also receive information from participants indicating their intention to participate in the tournament (entry information) along with information about the location of participation.

[0041] Furthermore, the information receiving unit 100 can also receive information on the operating location in association with the desired operating period, which is the period during which the organizer wishes to operate the tournament; information on the venue in association with the desired hosting period, which is the period during which the provider wishes to hold the tournament; and / or information on the participation location in association with the desired participation period, which is the period during which the participant wishes to participate in the tournament. In addition, the information receiving unit 100 can also receive participation location information from one or more participants. For example, the information receiving unit 100 may receive participation location information from each of the multiple participants who wish to participate in the tournament, via the participant terminal 14 of each participant. The information receiving unit 100 supplies the various types of information it receives to the storage unit 102 and the matching control unit 120.

[0042] (Storage unit 102) The storage unit 102 stores various programs executed on the provider terminal 10, operator terminal 12, participant terminal 14, and / or server 3, and / or various data used in those programs. Specifically, the storage unit 102 stores programs executed in system 1 (matching programs), various information supplied from each component of system 1, and / or various information related to the matching process executed in system 1. The storage unit 102 also stores predetermined information received by the information receiving unit 100 in predetermined storage units. The storage unit 102 then supplies predetermined information to predetermined components in response to requests from other components of system 1. In the various IDs described below, if one ID is associated with another ID, and another ID is associated with yet another ID, the predetermined information can be made available by tracing the IDs.

[0043] (Storage unit 102: Provider information storage unit 104) The provider information storage unit 104 stores information such as provider information, information about the venue where the provider wishes to hold the event, the period and time slots the provider wishes to hold the event, the capacity of the venue, and the costs (usage fees) required to use the venue, all associated with a provider ID that identifies the provider.

[0044] Provider information includes, for example, various user registration information indicating that the provider is registered as a user of System 1, the provider's name or company name, the name of the provider's contact person, address or residence, contact telephone number and email address, and information regarding the venue that has been decided to be provided (this information is not stored if it has not been decided to provide a venue). Venue information is information regarding the location where the provider wishes to hold the tournament (for example, a designated facility, etc.), and includes information such as the name of the venue, the address of the venue, and how to access the venue. The desired period of holding the tournament is information regarding the period during which the provider is permitted to hold the tournament at the venue (for example, one or more specified months and days, or a period from one month and day to another month and day at a certain interval; the same applies hereinafter). The desired time slot is information regarding the time slot during which the provider is permitted to hold the tournament at the venue. Time zones can be defined by specific times (for example, from one time to another), or by assigning a designated name to a period of time at a certain interval from one time to another (for example, 9:00 to 12:00 can be defined as "AM," 1:00 to 15:00 as "PM," 15:00 to 17:00 as "Evening," 18:00 to 20:00 as "Nighttime," etc.) (the same applies hereinafter). The capacity refers to information about the number of people that can be accommodated at the venue, and the cost refers to information about the fees that a third party must pay to the provider when using the venue.

[0045] (Storage unit 102: Operator information storage unit 106) The operator information storage unit 106 stores operator information, information about the operator, information about the location where the operator wishes to operate, the desired period of operation, the desired time slots for operation, the costs required for operation, and the operator's operational record in past tournaments, all associated with an operator ID that identifies the operator.

[0046] Operator information includes, for example, various user registration information indicating that the operator is registered as a user of System 1, the operator's name or company name, the name of the operator's contact person, address or residence, contact telephone number and email address, and information about the tournament that the operator has decided to operate (this information is not stored if the operator has not decided to operate the tournament). Information about the operating location is information about the location where the operator wishes to operate the tournament (for example, a specific location such as a designated facility or store, and / or a specific area). Information about the operating location may be information about a specific location or area identified by an address, or information about a designated area including a designated transportation stop (for example, an area defined by the walking time from the stop). Desired operating period is information about the period during which the operator wishes to operate the tournament at the operating location. Desired operating time slot is information about the time slot during which the operator wishes to operate the tournament at the operating location. In addition, costs are information about the costs incurred by the operator in operating the tournament. Furthermore, operational experience refers to information about tournaments that the organizer has run in the past (for example, the name of the tournament, the date and time, the location, the number of participants, etc.).

[0047] (Storage unit 102: Participant information storage unit 108) The participant information storage unit 108 stores information such as participant information, information about the participant's preferred location, preferred period of participation, preferred time slot, expenses the participant can afford to bear for participating in the competition, and past participation history, which indicates the participant's past competition experience, all associated with a participant ID that identifies the participant.

[0048] Participant information includes, for example, various user registration information indicating that the participant is registered as a user of System 1, the participant's name, address or residence, contact telephone number and email address, and information about the tournament in which participation has been decided (this information is not stored if participation has not been decided). Participation location information is information about a location desired by the participant, where the participant would be willing to participate if the tournament were held. Participation location information may be information indicating a specific point or area such as a designated facility or store, or information about a designated area including a designated transportation stop. Furthermore, if the participation location is a designated area, the participant's address or residence does not have to be included in that designated area. Desired participation period is information about the period during which the participant wishes to participate in the tournament at the participation location. Desired participation time is information about the time of day when the participant wishes to participate in the tournament at the participation location. In addition, affordable expenses are information about the expenses that the participant can afford to bear in order to participate in the tournament. Furthermore, participation history includes information about tournaments the participant has previously participated in and their match results in the current tournament (for example, the tournament ID, name of the tournament, date and time, location, and the participant's win / loss record).

[0049] (Storage unit 102: Tournament information storage unit 110) The tournament information storage unit 110 stores tournament information related to past tournaments, such as trading card game tournaments, associated with a tournament ID that identifies the tournament. The tournament information includes, for example, the tournament name, the date and time of the tournament, the venue (including information such as the cost of providing the venue), the venue provider, the organizer (including information such as the cost of operation), and the participants (including information about individual participants, the total number of participants, etc.).

[0050] (Matching control unit 120) The matching control unit 120 controls the matching process for at least two locations selected from the event venue, operation venue, and participation venue, based on the event venue information received by the information receiving unit 100 from the provider terminal 10, the operation venue information received from the operator terminal 12, and / or the participation venue information received from the participant terminal 14. In other words, the matching control unit 120 controls the matching process based on the various types of information received by the information receiving unit 100 and stored in the storage unit 102.

[0051] The matching controlled by the matching control unit 120 here refers to determining a predetermined location from among multiple location information in which the content of the locations indicated by at least two of the location information items are compatible with each other. For example, the matching control unit 120 controls matching between the event venue and the operation venue, the operation venue and the participation venue, the event venue and the participation venue, or the event venue, the operation venue, and the participation venue.

[0052] In other words, the matching control unit 120 performs matching of one or more of the following deviation patterns. i) Match the operating location with the event location based on the operating location information and the event location information. ii) Match the event venue with the event participant venue based on the event venue information and the event participant venue information. iii) Match the event venue with the participant's location based on the event venue information and the participant's location information. iv) Match the operating location, event venue, and participant location based on the operating location information, event venue information, and participant location information.

[0053] Furthermore, the matching control unit 120 may also use the desired operation period, desired event period, and / or desired participation period together with the operation location information, event location information, and / or participation location information to perform matching. For example, the matching control unit 120 may perform matching as described in i) above if there is an overlapping period between the desired operation period and the desired event period, as described in ii) above if there is an overlapping period between the desired operation period and the desired participation period, and as described in iii) above if there is an overlapping period between the desired event period and the desired participation period. Furthermore, the matching control unit 120 may also perform matching as described in iv) above if there is an overlapping period between the desired operation period, the desired event period, and the desired participation period.

[0054] Furthermore, if the information receiving unit 100 receives participation location information from multiple participants, the matching control unit 120 may perform matching using the participation location information for the location with the most participants (most frequent participation location information). In this case, the matching control unit 120 may perform matching using the most frequent participation location information in each of the matchings described in i) to iv) above. In addition, the matching control unit 120 may perform matching using, or separately from, the operating location information, event location information, participation location information, desired operating period, desired event period, and / or desired participation period, the costs that must be paid to the provider, the costs incurred by the operator in running the tournament, and / or the costs that participants can bear in participating in the tournament. The matching control unit 120 supplies information indicating the matching results to the notification unit 122 and the tournament control unit 124.

[0055] The matching control unit 120 may perform the following processes together with or separately from the matching process. The matching control unit 120 may notify the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and / or the participant terminal 14 of the results of each of the following processes via the notification unit 122. • User registration process for providers, operators, and participants in System 1. Based on information from one or more participating locations, this process outputs a ranking of locations that are desired by participants and where the tournament is also desired to be held. Based on information about one or more participating locations and information about past tournament locations stored in the tournament information storage unit 110, the process extracts locations where a tournament has not yet been held (locations where a tournament has not been held) and / or outputs the number of times a tournament has been held in a particular location in the past. - If the venue information stored in the provider information storage unit 104 matches the venue indicated by the venue information, and / or if the venue information stored in the operator information storage unit 106 matches the venue information, the number of times the venue information has been stored in the provider information storage unit 104, and / or the number of times the venue information has been stored in the operator information storage unit 106, are output along with the venue information. In this case, although there is no record of holding a tournament at the venue information, a higher number of times indicates a higher desire from the operator to run a tournament and / or a higher desire from the provider to provide a venue. • A process that outputs the operational record of the operator stored in the operator information storage unit 106, associated with the operator ID of the operator who provided the operational location information received by the information reception unit 100.

[0056] (Notification section 122) The notification unit 122 notifies the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and / or the participant terminal 14 via the communication network 5 of the matching results from the matching control unit 120 and / or information requesting the solicitation of predetermined location information.

[0057] Specifically, when the matching control unit 120 matches the operating location and the event location, the notification unit 122 notifies the participant's terminal 14 of information soliciting participation in the tournament at the matched operating location and event location. As a result, if the location where the participant wishes to participate matches or overlaps with the matching operating location and event location, the participant can provide information to the tournament control unit 124 via the participant terminal 14 indicating their desire to participate in that tournament.

[0058] Furthermore, when the Matching Control Unit 120 matches the operating location and participation location, the Notification Unit 122 notifies the provider's provider terminal 10 of information soliciting the provision of venues at the matched operating location and participation location. This allows the provider to supply information to the tournament control unit 124 via the provider terminal 10, indicating their desire to provide a venue for the tournament if the venue they wish to provide or the venue they are willing to provide matches or overlaps with the matching operating location and participation location.

[0059] Furthermore, when the Matching Control Unit 120 finds that the venue and participation venues have been matched, the Notification Unit 122 notifies the organizer's organizer terminal 12 of information soliciting participation in the operation of the matched venue and participation venues. This allows the organizer to provide information to the tournament control unit 124 via the organizer terminal 12 indicating their desire to operate the tournament at the venue where the venue and participation venues have been matched, if the location where the organizer wishes to operate the tournament matches or overlaps with the matched venue and participation venues.

[0060] Furthermore, when the information receiving unit 100 receives participation location information, the notification unit 122 may supply information to the provider terminal 10 and the operator terminal 12 indicating that there are potential participants at the participation location indicated by this participation location information. Here, the notification unit 122 may supply information to the provider terminal 10 and the operator terminal 12 indicating that there are a predetermined number of potential participants at a participation location if the information receiving unit 100 receives entry information from a predetermined number of participants or more for a single participation location. This allows the operator and provider to foresee with a high degree of certainty that the tournament will be held by participating in the operation of the tournament at the participation location and by providing the venue for the tournament at the participation location.

[0061] (Conference Control Unit 124) The tournament control unit 124 decides to hold a predetermined tournament if the matching result from the matching control unit 120 indicates that the venue, operation venue, and / or participation venue have matched, and executes the processing related to holding the predetermined tournament (tournament processing). Specifically, after the notification unit 122 notifies the provider terminal 10, operator terminal 12, and participant terminal 14 of the predetermined information, the tournament control unit 124 executes the processing related to holding the tournament if participants are determined based on information soliciting participation in the tournament, if a venue is determined based on information soliciting provision of a venue, or if an operator is determined based on information soliciting participation in the operation. For example, if the tournament control unit 124 decides to hold a predetermined tournament, it automatically determines the participation of participants whose venue, operation venue, and participation venue have matched. The tournament control unit 124 stores information related to the decision to participate in the predetermined tournament as one of the participant information in the participant information storage unit 108, associated with the participant ID of the participant whose participation has been automatically determined. The tournament control unit 124 similarly makes decisions regarding the operation of the tournament by the organizers and the provision of venues by the providers. It stores information regarding the venues that have been decided to be operated as one of the organizer information in the organizer information storage unit 106, and information regarding the venues that have been decided to be provided as one of the provider information in the provider information storage unit 104.

[0062] The tournament control unit 124 notifies the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and the participant terminal 14 via the notification unit 122 of information indicating that the tournament has been decided to be held, information related to the tournament (e.g., tournament name, venue, date and time, number of participants, etc.), and / or other various information related to the tournament. The tournament control unit 124 may also supply the participant terminal 14 with a predetermined two-dimensional barcode as a participation ticket for the tournament. On the day of the tournament, participants can perform the participation procedures for the tournament by displaying the two-dimensional barcode on the participant terminal 14 and having the two-dimensional barcode read by a predetermined reader prepared by the tournament operator. After the tournament has ended, the tournament control unit 124 stores various information related to the tournament (tournament information) in the tournament information storage unit 110.

[0063] [Processing flow of System 1] Figure 4 shows an example of the flow of the matching process performed by the system according to this embodiment.

[0064] (An example where the information reception unit 100 is predicated on acquiring information about the operating location) First, the information receiving unit 100 receives information about the operating location from the operator via the operator terminal 12, and also receives information about the event location from the provider via the provider terminal 10, or receives information about the event location from the participant via the participant terminal 14 (step 10; hereafter, steps will be denoted as "S"). The information receiving unit 100 receives information from at least one of the event location information and the event location information. The information receiving unit 100 stores the received information in the storage unit 102 and supplies it to the matching control unit 120. The information receiving unit 100 stores the operating location information in the operator information storage unit 106 in association with the operator ID, the event location information in the provider information storage unit 104 in association with the provider ID, and the event location information in the participant information storage unit 108 in association with the participant ID (the same applies hereafter).

[0065] (Example 1: When accepting venue information) When the information receiving unit 100 receives venue information, the matching control unit 120 matches the operation venue information with the venue information (S12). For example, in this case, the information receiving unit 100 has already received the operation venue information. Therefore, the matching control unit 120 notifies the operator terminal 12 that it has newly received venue information from the provider (i.e., the provider has registered venue information). In this case, the operation venue corresponding to the operation venue information and the venue corresponding to the venue information are the same. The operator then refers to the information notified to the operator terminal 12 and supplies information (offer) indicating that they will undertake the operation of the tournament at the venue indicated by the venue information to the provider's provider terminal 10 via the operator terminal 12. The provider refers to the offer received at the provider terminal 10 and supplies information to the matching control unit 120 indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the matching control unit 120 receives information from the provider terminal 10 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that the operating location information and the event location information have matched (matching successful). If it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that the match did not occur (matching unsuccessful).

[0066] The matching control unit 120 may also supply the received venue information to the provider terminal 10, and a provider who has referred to the venue information may, via the provider terminal 10, supply information (offer) to the operator's terminal 12 indicating that they can provide a venue where the tournament can be held at the venue indicated by the venue information. In this case, the operator refers to the offer received on the operator terminal 12 and supplies the matching control unit 120 with information indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the matching control unit 120 receives information from the operator terminal 12 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that the venue information and the venue information have matched (matching successful), and if it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that there was no match (matching unsuccessful).

[0067] If the matching control unit 120 fails to match the operation location information and the event location information, it terminates the matching process, and the notification unit 122 notifies the operator terminal 12 and / or provider terminal 10 of information indicating that new or continued operation location information and / or event location information can be received (S14). The steps from S10 onward are then repeated. If the predetermined information is not received in S10, the information receiving unit 100 waits until the predetermined information is received (the same applies to S10 in other examples below). Furthermore, if the information receiving unit 100 has received the desired operation period, the matching control unit 120 may allow event location information to be received until the end of the desired operation period.

[0068] On the other hand, if the matching control unit 120 finds that the operating location information and the event location information match, it terminates the matching process, and the notification unit 122 uses the information regarding the matching location (matching location) to notify the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and / or the participant terminal 14 of information soliciting participation in the tournament at the matching location (S14). Participants refer to this notification, and if they wish to participate in the tournament, they provide information indicating their desire to participate in the tournament (participation request information) to the tournament control unit 124 via the participant terminal 14. When the tournament control unit 124 receives this participation request information, it executes the matching process, and if a match is found, it determines that the operating location, event location, and participant location have matched, and executes the tournament holding process (S18). Specifically, the matching process may be as follows: First, the tournament control unit 124 notifies the operator terminal 12 and / or the provider terminal 10 that it has received new participation request information (the participation request information includes participation location information) from a participant (i.e., the participant has registered participation location information). In this case, the participation location information corresponds to the venue and the venue and operation location. The organizer then refers to the information notified to the organizer terminal 12 and supplies information (offer) requesting participation in the tournament at the participation location indicated by the participation location information to the participant terminal 14 via the organizer terminal 12. The provider may also supply the offer to the participant terminal 14 via the provider terminal 10. In other words, at least one of the organizer terminal 12 and the provider terminal 10 supplies the offer to the participant. The participant refers to the offer received on the participant terminal 14 and supplies information to the tournament control unit 124 indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the tournament control unit 124 receives information from the participant terminal 14 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that a match has been made (matching successful) (S16 Yes), and if it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that a match has not been made (matching unsuccessful) (S16 No). Furthermore, the tournament control unit 124 acquires participation location information from each of the multiple participant terminals 14, and when the number of acquired participation location information points reaches a predetermined threshold value (for example, when the number of participation location information points corresponding to the threshold number of participants is acquired),The threshold value may, for example, be a value that matches the minimum number of participants required to hold the event.) If a matching process is performed and a match is found, it may be determined that the operating location, event location, and participation location have matched.

[0069] On the other hand, if the tournament control unit 124 does not receive participation request information (i.e., matching is unsuccessful), that is, if no participation request information is supplied from the participant terminal 14 (No. in S16), it will wait until it receives participation request information. If the information reception unit 100 has received the desired operation period and / or desired event period, the tournament control unit 124 may refer to the desired operation period, the desired event period, and the period in which the desired operation period and the desired event period overlap, and may make it possible to receive participation request information until the earliest end of each period. Furthermore, the desired operation time slot may be used instead of the desired operation period, and the desired event time slot may be used instead of the desired event period. In addition, when using the participation request period, the desired participation time slot may be used instead of the participation request period (the same applies hereinafter).

[0070] (Example 2 of the first example: When accepting information about the location of participation) Furthermore, when the information receiving unit 100 receives participation location information, the matching control unit 120 matches the operation location information with the participation location information (S12). For example, in this case, the information receiving unit 100 has already received the operation location information. Therefore, the matching control unit 120 notifies the operator terminal 12 that it has newly received participation location information from a participant (i.e., the participant has registered participation location information). In this case, the operation location corresponding to the operation location information and the participation location corresponding to the participation location information are the same. The operator then refers to the information notified to the operator terminal 12 and, via the operator terminal 12, supplies information (an offer) to the participant's participant terminal 14 indicating that they will undertake the operation of the tournament at the participation location indicated by the participation location information. The participant refers to the offer received on the participant terminal 14 and supplies information to the matching control unit 120 indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the matching control unit 120 receives information from the participant terminal 14 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that the location information and the participation location information have matched (matching successful). If it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that the match did not occur (matching unsuccessful).

[0071] The matching control unit 120 may also supply the received event location information to the participant terminal 14, and the participant who has referred to the event location information may, via the participant terminal 14, supply information (offer) indicating their intention to participate in the event at the event location indicated by the event location information to the event organizer's terminal 12. In this case, the event organizer refers to the offer received on the event organizer terminal 12 and supplies the matching control unit 120 with information indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the matching control unit 120 receives information from the event organizer terminal 12 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that the event location information and the event location information have matched (matching successful), and if it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that the match did not occur (matching unsuccessful).

[0072] If the matching control unit 120 fails to match the operation location information with the participant location information, it terminates the matching process, and the notification unit 122 notifies the operator terminal 12 and / or participant terminal 14 of information indicating that new or continued operation location information and / or participant location information can be accepted (S14). The steps from S10 onward are then repeated. In addition, if the information reception unit 100 has accepted the desired operation period, the matching control unit 120 may allow participation location information to be accepted until the end of the desired operation period.

[0073] On the other hand, when the matching control unit 120 finds a match between the event venue information and the participant venue information, it terminates the matching process, and the notification unit 122 uses the information about the matched venue to notify the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and / or the participant terminal 14 of a request for the provision of a venue for the tournament at the matched venue (S14). When a provider sees this notification and wishes to provide a venue for the tournament, they supply venue information of a venue available for the tournament to the tournament control unit 124 via the provider terminal 10. When the tournament control unit 124 receives this venue information, it executes the matching process, and if a match is found, it determines that the event venue, venue, and participant venue have matched and executes the tournament hosting process (S18). Specifically, the matching process may be as follows: First, the tournament control unit 124 notifies the operator terminal 12 and / or the participant terminal 14 that it has received new venue information from the provider (i.e., the provider has registered the venue information). In this case, the venue information corresponds to the venue, participation venue, and operational venue. The operator then refers to the information notified to the operator terminal 12 and, via the operator terminal 12, supplies information (an offer) to the provider terminal 10 requesting the provision of a venue for the tournament at the venue indicated by the venue information. Participants may also supply the offer to the provider terminal 10 via the participant terminal 14. In other words, at least one of the operator terminal 12 and the participant terminal 14 supplies the offer to the provider. The provider refers to the offer received at the provider terminal 10 and supplies information to the tournament control unit 124 indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the tournament control unit 124 receives information from the provider terminal 10 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that a match has been made (matching successful) (Yes in S16), and if it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that a match has not been made (matching unsuccessful) (No in S16).

[0074] On the other hand, if the tournament control unit 124 does not receive venue information (i.e., if matching is not successful), that is, if venue information is not supplied from the provider terminal 10 (No. in S16), it will wait until venue information is received. If the information reception unit 100 has received the desired operation period and / or desired participation period, the tournament control unit 124 may refer to the desired operation period, the desired participation period, and the period in which the desired operation period and the desired participation period overlap, and make it possible to receive venue information until the earliest end of each period.

[0075] (Second example where the information reception unit 100 is predicated on obtaining venue information) First, the information receiving unit 100 receives venue information from the provider via the provider terminal 10, and also receives venue information from the operator via the operator terminal 12, or venue information from the participant via the participant terminal 14 (S10). The information receiving unit 100 receives at least one of the venue information and venue information. The information receiving unit 100 stores the received information in the storage unit 102 and supplies it to the matching control unit 120.

[0076] (Example 2, Part 1: When accepting information about the operating location) When the information receiving unit 100 receives the venue information, the matching control unit 120 matches the event venue information with the venue information (S12). For example, in this case, the information receiving unit 100 has already received the event venue information. Therefore, the matching control unit 120 notifies the provider terminal 10 that it has newly received venue information from the operator (i.e., the operator has registered the venue information). In this case, the event venue corresponding to the venue information and the venue corresponding to the venue information match. The provider then refers to the information notified to the provider terminal 10 and supplies information (an offer) to the operator terminal 12 via the provider terminal 10 indicating that they can provide a venue for the tournament at the venue indicated by the venue information. The operator refers to the offer received on the operator terminal 12 and supplies information to the matching control unit 120 indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the matching control unit 120 receives information from the operator terminal 12 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that the event venue information and the operator venue information have matched (matching successful). If it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that the match did not occur (matching unsuccessful).

[0077] The matching control unit 120 may also supply the received venue information to the operator terminal 12, and the operator who refers to the venue information may, via the operator terminal 12, supply information (offer) to the provider's provider terminal 10 indicating that they can undertake the operation of the tournament at the venue indicated by the venue information. In this case, the provider refers to the offer received at the provider terminal 10 and supplies the matching control unit 120 with information indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the matching control unit 120 receives information from the provider terminal 10 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that the venue information and the venue information have matched (matching successful), and if it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that there was no match (matching unsuccessful).

[0078] The steps from S12 onward are the same as the steps from "Matching the operation location information with the event location information (S12)" in "Example 1 of the first example in which the information receiving unit 100 is premised on acquiring the operation location information," so a detailed explanation will be omitted. Note that if the information receiving unit 100 has received the desired event period, the matching control unit 120 may allow the operation location information to be received until the end of the desired event period.

[0079] (Example 2, part 2: When accepting information about the location of participation) Furthermore, when the information receiving unit 100 receives the participation location information, the matching control unit 120 matches the event venue information with the participation location information (S12). For example, in this case, the information receiving unit 100 has already received the event venue information. Therefore, the matching control unit 120 notifies the provider terminal 10 that it has newly received participation location information from the participant (i.e., the participant has registered the participation location information). In this case, the event venue corresponding to the event venue information and the participation location corresponding to the participation location information are the same. The provider then refers to the information notified to the provider terminal 10 and supplies information (an offer) to the participant's participant terminal 14 via the provider terminal 10, indicating that the participant is requesting to participate in the tournament at the participation location indicated by the participation location information. The participant refers to the offer received on the participant terminal 14 and supplies information to the matching control unit 120 indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the matching control unit 120 receives information from the participant terminal 14 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that the event location information and the participation location information have matched (matching successful). If it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that the match did not occur (matching unsuccessful).

[0080] The matching control unit 120 may also supply the received venue information to the participant terminal 14, and the participant who has referred to the venue information may, via the participant terminal 14, supply information (offer) to the provider's provider terminal 10 indicating that they can participate in the tournament at the venue indicated by the venue information. In this case, the provider refers to the offer received at the provider terminal 10 and supplies the matching control unit 120 with information indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the matching control unit 120 receives information from the provider terminal 10 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that the venue information and the event venue information have matched (matching successful), and if it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that there was no match (matching unsuccessful).

[0081] If the venue information and participant venue information do not match, the matching control unit 120 terminates the matching process, and the notification unit 122 notifies the provider terminal 10 and / or participant terminal 14 of information indicating that new or continued venue information and / or participant venue information can be accepted (S14). Thereafter, steps S10 onwards are repeated. In addition, if the information reception unit 100 has accepted the desired event period, the matching control unit 120 may allow participation venue information to be accepted until the end of the desired event period.

[0082] On the other hand, when the venue information and the participant venue information are matched, the matching control unit 120 terminates the matching process, and the notification unit 122 uses the information about the matched venue (matching venue) to notify the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and / or the participant terminal 14 of the information soliciting volunteers to manage the tournament at the matching venue (S14). The operator refers to this notification and, if they wish to manage the tournament at the matching venue, provides information to the tournament control unit 124 via the operator terminal 12 indicating their desire to manage the tournament at the matching venue. When the tournament control unit 124 receives this information, it executes the matching process, and if a match is made, it determines that the venue, participant venue, and management venue have matched and executes the tournament management process (S18). Specifically, the matching process may be as follows: First, the tournament control unit 124 notifies the provider terminal 10 and / or the participant terminal 14 that it has received new management venue information from the operator (i.e., the operator has registered the management venue information). In this case, the location of operation corresponding to the location of operation information matches the location of participation and the location of the event. The provider then refers to the information notified to the provider terminal 10 and supplies information (offer) requesting the operation of the tournament at the location of operation indicated by the location of operation information to the operator terminal 12 via the provider terminal 10. Participants may also supply the offer to the operator terminal 12 via the participant terminal 14. In other words, at least one of the provider terminal 10 and the participant terminal 14 supplies the offer to the operator. The operator refers to the offer received at the operator terminal 12 and supplies information to the tournament control unit 124 indicating whether or not they accept the offer. If the tournament control unit 124 receives information from the operator terminal 12 indicating acceptance of the offer, it determines that a match has been made (matching successful) (Yes in S16), and if it receives information indicating rejection, it determines that a match has not been made (matching unsuccessful) (No in S16).

[0083] On the other hand, if the tournament control unit 124 does not receive the information (i.e., if the matching is unsuccessful), that is, if the operator terminal 12 does not provide information indicating a desire to operate at the matching location (No. in S16), it will wait until it receives the information. If the information reception unit 100 has received the desired hosting period and / or desired participation period, the tournament control unit 124 may refer to the desired hosting period, the desired participation period, and the period during which the desired hosting period and the desired participation period overlap, and make it possible to receive information indicating a desire to operate until the earliest end date of each period.

[0084] (A third example where the information reception unit 100 is predicated on obtaining information about the location of participation) First, the information receiving unit 100 receives information about the event location from participants via the participant terminal 14, and also receives information about the event venue from providers via the provider terminal 10, or information about the event venue from operators via the operator terminal 12 (S10). The information receiving unit 100 receives information from at least one of the event venue information and the event venue information. The information receiving unit 100 stores the received information in the storage unit 102 and also supplies it to the matching control unit 120.

[0085] (Example 3, Part 1: When accepting venue information) When the information receiving unit 100 receives venue information, the matching control unit 120 matches the participant venue information with the venue information (S12). The steps from S12 onward are the same as the steps from "matching venue information with participant venue information (S12)" in "Example 2 of the second example" where "the information receiving unit 100 assumes acquisition of venue information," so a detailed explanation is omitted. Note that if the information receiving unit 100 has received the desired participation period, the matching control unit 120 may allow the acceptance of venue information until the end of the desired participation period.

[0086] (Example 3, part 2: When accepting information about the operating location) Furthermore, when the information receiving unit 100 receives the operational location information, the matching control unit 120 matches the participant location information with the operational location information (S12). The steps from S12 onward are the same as the steps from "Matching operational location information with participant location information (S12)" in "Example 2 of the First Example" where "the information receiving unit 100 assumes the acquisition of operational location information," so a detailed explanation is omitted. Note that if the information receiving unit 100 has received the desired participation period, the matching control unit 120 may allow it to accept operational location information until the end of the desired participation period.

[0087] Furthermore, if the information receiving unit 100 does not receive venue information, the notification unit 122 notifies the provider terminal 10 of information prompting the provision of venue information. Also, if the information receiving unit 100 does not receive operational venue information, the notification unit 122 notifies the operator terminal 12 of information prompting the provision of operational venue information. Here, if the number of participant venue information received by the information receiving unit 100 reaches a predetermined threshold, the notification unit 122 notifies the provider terminal 10 of information prompting the provision of venue information and also notifies the operator terminal 12 of information prompting the provision of operational venue information. In addition, if the information receiving unit 100 has received a desired participation period, the matching control unit 120 may notify information prompting the provision of venue information and operational venue information until the end of the desired participation period.

[0088] (Example of matching based on venue information, operational venue information, and participant venue information) The information receiving unit 100 receives venue information from providers via the provider terminal 10, venue information from operators via the operator terminal 12, and venue information from participants via the participant terminal 14 (S10). The information receiving unit 100 stores each piece of received information in the storage unit 102 and supplies it to the matching control unit 120. The matching control unit 120 performs matching using the venue information, venue information, and venue information received by the information receiving unit 100 (S12). For example, after an offer requesting tournament operation (operation offer) is supplied from the provider terminal 10 to the operator terminal 12, and an offer requesting tournament participation (participation offer) is supplied to the participant terminal 14, the matching control unit 120 may determine that a match has been made (matching is successful) if it receives information from the operator via the operator terminal 12 indicating acceptance of the operation offer, and information from the participant via the participant terminal 14 indicating acceptance of the participation offer. Furthermore, after an offer requesting the provision of a venue (provision offer) is supplied from the operator terminal 12 to the provider terminal 10, and a participation offer is supplied to the participant terminal 14, the matching control unit 120 may determine that a match has been made if it receives information from the provider via the provider terminal 10 indicating acceptance of the provision offer, and information from the participant via the participant terminal 14 indicating acceptance of the participation offer. Moreover, after an offer is supplied from the participant terminal 14 to the provider terminal 10, and an operation offer is supplied to the operator terminal 12, the matching control unit 120 may determine that a match has been made if it receives information from the provider via the provider terminal 10 indicating acceptance of the provision offer, and information from the operator via the operator terminal 12 indicating acceptance of the operation offer.

[0089] If the matching control unit 120 fails to find a match for the venue information, operation venue information, and participant venue information, it terminates the matching process. The notification unit 122 then notifies the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and / or participant terminal 14 that new or continued acceptance of venue information, operation venue information, and / or participant venue information is possible (S14). The steps from S10 onward are then repeated. If the information reception unit 100 has received the desired event period, operation period, and / or participation period, the matching control unit 120 may allow acceptance of venue information, operation venue information, and / or participant venue information until the earliest possible end date among the respective end dates of the desired event period, operation period, and / or participation period.

[0090] On the other hand, when the venue information, operation venue information, and participant venue information are matched, the matching control unit 120 terminates the matching process, and the notification unit 122 uses the information regarding the matched venue (matching venue) to notify the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and the participant terminal 14 that a match has been made (S14). In this case, since the venue information, operation venue information, and participant venue information have matched (Yes in S16), the tournament control unit 124 executes the tournament holding process (S18).

[0091] [Variation 1 of the processing flow of System 1] Figure 5 shows an example of a modified example of the matching process flow performed by the system according to this embodiment.

[0092] First, the information receiving unit 100 receives information about the operating location from the operator via the operator terminal 12, information about the event venue from the provider via the provider terminal 10, and information about the participation location from the participant via the participant terminal 14 (S20). The matching control unit 120 makes the operating location information, event venue information, and participation location information accessible to each terminal, along with information that identifies the person who provided each piece of information. The matching control unit 120 then determines whether an operating offer from the operator has been supplied to the provider terminal 10 and / or the participant terminal 14 via the operator terminal 12, whether an offering offer from the provider has been supplied to the operator terminal 12 and / or the participant terminal 14 via the provider terminal 10, and whether a participation offer from the participant has been supplied to the provider terminal 10 and / or the operator terminal 12 via the participant terminal 14 (S22). If at least one of the three offers—operating offers, offering offers, and participation offers—is not available (No. in S22), the matching control unit 120 waits until all three offers are available. On the other hand, if there are three offers (Yes in S22), the matching control unit 120 obtains information from two other terminals, different from the terminal that provided the offer, indicating whether or not they accept that offer (S24). If the matching control unit 120 obtains information from the other two terminals indicating acceptance of the offer (Yes in S24), it determines that a match has been made (S26). Subsequently, for example, as explained in Figure 4, the tournament control unit 124 executes the tournament holding process (S30). On the other hand, if the matching control unit 120 does not obtain information from the other two terminals indicating acceptance of the offer (No in S24), it determines that a match has not been made (S28). After that, system 1 repeats the steps from S22 onward.

[0093] [Variation 2 of the processing flow of System 1] Figure 6 shows an example of another modified example of the matching process flow performed by the system according to this embodiment.

[0094] First, the information receiving unit 100 receives information about the operating location from the operator via the operator terminal 12, information about the event venue from the provider via the provider terminal 10, and information about the event venue from the participant via the participant terminal 14 (S40). The information receiving unit 100 stores each piece of received information in a predetermined storage unit of the storage unit 102. The matching control unit 120 then obtains information about the conditions (desired conditions) desired by each party (i.e., the provider, operator, and / or participant) via the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and / or the participant terminal 14. The information about the desired conditions may be, for example, at least one piece of information stored in the provider information storage unit 104 for the provider (e.g., event venue, desired event period, desired event time slot, etc.), at least one piece of information stored in the operator information storage unit 106 for the operator (e.g., operating location, desired operating period, desired operating time slot, etc.), and at least one piece of information stored in the participant information storage unit 108 for the participant (e.g., event venue, desired event period, desired event time slot, etc.). The matching control unit 120 stores the acquired desired conditions in a predetermined storage unit of the storage unit 102. For example, if the matching control unit 120 acquires information about the event venue as a desired condition from the provider, it stores the acquired information about the event venue in the provider information storage unit 104; if it acquires information about the event venue as a desired condition from the operator, it stores the acquired information about the event venue in the operator information storage unit 106; and if it acquires information about the event venue as a desired condition from the participant, it stores the acquired information about the event venue in the participant information storage unit 108.

[0095] The matching control unit 120 searches for location information (location information) that matches the desired conditions of one party, based on the desired conditions of one party received via one terminal (S42). For example, the matching control unit 120 receives information on the operating location as the operator's desired conditions via the operator terminal 12, and checks by referring to the storage unit 102 whether it has received information on the event venue that matches the desired conditions from the provider, and information on the participation location that matches the desired conditions from the participant. If the matching control unit 120 has received information on the event venue and participation location that match the desired conditions, it determines that location information that matches the desired conditions exists. In addition, the matching control unit 120 receives information on the event venue as the provider's desired conditions via the provider terminal 10, and checks by referring to the storage unit 102 whether it has received information on the operating location that matches the desired conditions from the operator, and information on the participation location that matches the desired conditions from the participant. If the matching control unit 120 has received information on the operating location and participation location that match the desired conditions, it determines that location information that matches the desired conditions exists. Furthermore, the matching control unit 120 receives information about the participation location as a participant's desired condition via the participant terminal 14, and checks by referring to the storage unit 102 whether it has received information about the event venue that matches the desired condition from the provider, and whether it has received information about the operational location from the operator. If the matching control unit 120 has received information about the event venue and operational location that match the desired condition, it determines that location information that matches the desired condition exists.

[0096] If the matching control unit 120 determines that location information matching the desired conditions exists (Yes in S42), it determines whether the party in question has already registered as a user with System 1 (S44). That is, when a party uses System 1 via their terminal, the matching control unit 120 determines whether that party has registered as a user with System 1. For example, the matching control unit 120 obtains information about the party (e.g., name) via the party's terminal and determines whether the obtained information is stored in the storage unit 102. If the obtained information is stored in the storage unit 102, the matching control unit 120 determines that the party has already registered as a user; if it is not stored, it determines that the party has not yet registered as a user. The matching control unit 120 may also perform the process in S44 before the process in S40, or between the process in S40 and the process in S42.

[0097] If the party in question has not registered as a user (No. in S44), the matching control unit 120 receives predetermined information of the party in question via the party's terminal (for example, provider information if the party is a provider, operator information if the party is an operator, or participant information if the party is a participant) and performs user registration (S48). The matching control unit 120 performs user registration by storing the received predetermined information in a predetermined storage unit of the storage unit 102 in association with an ID that identifies the party in question (for example, a provider ID if the party is a provider, an operator ID if the party is an operator, or a participant ID if the party is a participant). Steps from S46 onwards are executed after S48.

[0098] Then, if the matching control unit 120 determines that one party has already registered as a user (Yes in S44), it supplies information (offer promotion information) to the terminal of that party that prompts it to send a predetermined offer to each of the terminals of one or more other parties based on the desired conditions of that party. The party that has referenced the offer promotion information supplied to its terminal via its terminal sends the predetermined offer to the terminals of one or more other parties via its own terminal (S46). For example, the operator supplies an operator offer to the provider terminal 10 and / or participant terminal 14 via the operator terminal 12, the provider supplies a provision offer to the operator terminal 12 and / or participant terminal 14 via the provider terminal 10, and the participant supplies a participation offer to the provider terminal 10 and / or operator terminal 12 via the participant terminal 14.

[0099] The matching control unit 120 then obtains information from two other terminals, different from the terminal that provided the offer, indicating whether or not they accept the offer (S50). If the matching control unit 120 obtains information from the other two terminals indicating acceptance of the offer (Yes in S50), it determines that a match has been made (S52). Subsequently, for example, as explained in Figure 4, the tournament control unit 124 executes the tournament hosting process (S56). On the other hand, if the matching control unit 120 does not obtain information from at least one of the other two terminals indicating acceptance of the offer (No in S50), it determines that a match has not been made (S54). The steps from S42 onward are then repeated.

[0100] Furthermore, if the information receiving unit 100 receives new information regarding the operating location, event venue, and / or participation location (S40), the matching control unit 120 may notify the provider terminal 10, the operator terminal 12, and the participant terminal 14 that new information has been received. A party who sees this notification on their terminal may then search for location information that matches their desired conditions from the new information received by the information receiving unit 100 (S42).

[0101] [program] Each component of System 1 according to this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, can be realized by having a processing unit (processor), such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), execute a program (a program capable of performing matching in a predetermined tournament), that is, by software processing. Alternatively, it can be realized by pre-writing a program to hardware, such as an integrated circuit (IC), which is an electronic component. The processor is hardware for executing the instruction set described in the program, and is composed of an arithmetic unit, registers, peripheral circuits, etc. Furthermore, software and hardware can be used in combination.

[0102] In other words, the program according to this embodiment is a program that causes a computer equipped with a processor and memory to perform matching processing for a predetermined tournament. The program according to this embodiment (matching program) can be pre-installed in, for example, an IC or ROM. The program can also be provided as a computer program by recording it on a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium, optical recording medium, or semiconductor recording medium in an installable or executable file format. The recording medium storing the program may be a non-transient recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD. Furthermore, the program can be pre-stored on a computer connected to a communication network such as the Internet, and made available for download via the communication network.

[0103] The program according to this embodiment interacts with the CPU and other components to cause the program to function as the information receiving unit 100, storage unit 102, matching control unit 120, notification unit 122, and tournament control unit 124, etc., as described in Figures 1 to 6.

[0104] [Effects of the embodiment] System 1 according to this embodiment can perform matching for holding a predetermined tournament using venue information received from providers, venue information received from operators, and / or venue information received from participants. For example, from the operator's perspective, if a venue where the operator wishes to operate the tournament matches with a venue where a tournament can be held, the tournament can be held with a high degree of certainty by attracting participants to the matched venue. Also, if a venue where the operator wishes to operate the tournament matches with a venue where participants wish to participate, since there are already operators who wish to operate the tournament and participants who wish to participate in the tournament at the matched venue, the provider can hold the tournament with a high degree of certainty simply by providing the venue. As a provider, by allowing the venue to be used for a tournament, the period during which the venue is not in use can also be shortened.

[0105] Furthermore, from the provider's perspective, if the venue they wish to host matches the venue they can operate, they can attract participants to the matched location and hold the tournament with a high degree of certainty. On the other hand, if the venue and the participants match, since there is already a venue to host the tournament and participants who wish to participate in the tournament at that venue, the organizer can hold the tournament with a high degree of certainty simply by volunteering to operate the tournament at that location (in other words, the organizer can rent the venue from the provider on the premise that they can hold the tournament with a high degree of certainty).

[0106] Furthermore, System 1 can obtain information on preferred locations for the tournament from multiple participants. System 1 can also make this location information accessible on both the provider terminal 10 and the operator terminal 12. This allows providers and / or operators to understand in advance which locations or areas would make it easiest for participants to attend the tournament. In other words, System 1 can identify where there is a potential need among participants for the tournament to be held. Therefore, System 1 can lower the barriers for providers to offer venues in locations preferred by participants, and for operators to volunteer to run the tournament. If the provider is, for example, a local government, System 1 can be used for community development through the execution of a designated tournament by using facilities owned by the local government (for example, facilities with a monthly occupancy rate below a certain monthly occupancy rate) as venues.

[0107] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments described above do not limit the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, it should be noted that not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential for solving the problem of the invention. Moreover, the technical elements of the embodiments described above may be applied individually or may be divided into multiple parts, such as program components and hardware components, and applied accordingly.

[0108] Furthermore, the functions realized by the components described herein may be implemented in a circuit or processing circuitry, including general-purpose processors, application-specific processors, integrated circuits, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, programmed to realize the described functions. A processor, including transistors and other circuits, is considered a circuit or processing circuitry. A processor may be a programmed processor that executes a program stored in memory. In this specification, circuitry, unit, and means are hardware programmed to realize or perform the described functions. Such hardware may be any hardware disclosed herein, or any hardware known to be programmed to realize or perform the described functions. If such hardware is a processor that is considered a type of circuitry, then such circuitry, means, or unit is a combination of hardware and software used to constitute such hardware and / or processor.

[0109] Furthermore, the program according to this embodiment may also be referred to in the following supplementary information, which should not be confused with the claims.

[0110] (Additional note 1) Venue information regarding the venue where the tournament is to be held, provided by a provider who wishes to offer the venue for the tournament. Information regarding the venue where the organizer wishes to operate the aforementioned tournament, provided by the organizer who wishes to operate the aforementioned tournament. An information reception department receives information about the location of participation that participants wish to attend from participants who wish to participate in the aforementioned tournament, A matching control unit that matches the venue, the operation location, and the participation location based on the venue information, the operation location, and the participation location, A notification unit that notifies the provider's terminal, the operator's terminal, and the participant's terminal of the matching results, If the matching result from the matching control unit indicates that the venue, the operating venue, and the participation venue have matched, the tournament control unit executes the process related to the holding of the tournament. A system equipped with these features.

[0111] (Additional note 2) A matching program for causing a computer, which has a processor and memory, to perform matching processing related to a tournament, The matching program is provided to the processor, The process involves receiving venue information from providers who wish to provide a venue for the tournament, venue information from operators who wish to run the tournament, venue information from participants who wish to participate in the tournament, venue information from participants who wish to participate in the tournament. A step of matching the venue, the operating location, and the participating location based on the venue information, the operating location, and the participating location information, The steps include notifying the provider terminal of the provider, the operator terminal of the operator, and the participant terminal of the participant of the participant. A matching program that executes the task. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0112] 1 System 3 Servers 5. Communication Network 10 Provider terminal 12 Operator terminal 14 Participant terminals 20 Venue 22 Operating locations 24. Participation location 100 Information Reception Department 102 Storage Unit 104 Provider Information Storage Unit 106 Operator Information Storage Unit 108 Participant Information Storage Unit 110 Tournament Information Storage Unit 120 Matching Control Unit 122 Notification Department 124 Conference Control Committee 200 Decision Area

Claims

1. A matching program for causing a computer, which has a processor and memory, to perform matching processing related to a tournament, The matching program provides the processor with The process includes receiving information from an organizer who wishes to run the tournament regarding the location where the organizer wishes to run the tournament, and receiving information from a provider who wishes to provide a venue for the tournament regarding the venue where the tournament wishes to be held, or information from a participant who wishes to participate in the tournament regarding the location where the participant wishes to participate. A step of matching the operating location and the event location based on the operating location information and the event location information, or matching the operating location and the event location based on the operating location information and the event location information, In the matching step, If the aforementioned operating location and the aforementioned event location are matched, information soliciting participation in the aforementioned tournament at the matched operating location and the aforementioned event location will be notified to at least the participant's terminal. If the aforementioned operating location and the aforementioned participation location are matched, the step of notifying at least the provider's provider terminal of information soliciting the provision of the aforementioned event location at the matched operating location and the aforementioned participation location. A matching program that executes the task.

2. After the notification step, if the participants are determined based on the information soliciting participation in the said competition, or if the venue is determined based on the information soliciting the provision of the said venue, then the step of carrying out the process related to the holding of the said competition is performed. The matching program according to claim 1, which further performs the following.

3. The aforementioned acceptance step is, The steps include receiving the aforementioned operating location information and associating it with the desired operating period, This includes at least one of the following steps: receiving the venue information associated with the desired event period, and receiving the participation venue information associated with the desired participation period. The matching program according to claim 1, wherein the matching step is performed during a period in which the desired operating period and the desired event period or the desired participation period overlap.

4. The aforementioned acceptance step receives information about the location of participation that each of the multiple participants wishing to participate in the aforementioned competition wishes to participate in, The matching program according to claim 1, wherein the matching step is performed using the participation location information relating to the participation location with the most participants.

5. A matching system comprising means for performing all steps performed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising a control unit and a storage unit, wherein the control unit performs all steps performed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A server comprising a control unit and a storage unit, wherein the control unit performs all steps performed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. A method to be performed on a computer having a processor and memory, A method by which the processor performs all the steps performed in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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