Programs, information processing methods, servers

Abstract

Increase opportunities for users to match with each other. [Solution] The program to be executed by the server providing the matching service causes the server to execute a first process related to matching member users with each other, based on the status of member users who are member users of the matching service and are users of the chat service that can follow business accounts in the chat service.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , , , , ,

[0003] , , ,

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a program, an information processing method, a server, etc.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, services that provide opportunities for users to meet and get to know each other have become widespread. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for matching candidates for users to communicate based on user attributes.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] According to the first aspect of the present invention, a program for causing a server that provides a matching service to execute causes the server to execute a first process related to matching member users with each other based on the follow status of a business operator account in the chat service of a member user who is a member user of the matching service and is a user of a chat service in which the business operator account can be followed. According to the second aspect of the present invention, an information processing method of a server that provides a matching service executes a first process related to matching member users with each other based on the follow status of a business operator account in the chat service of a member user who is a member user of the matching service and is a user of a chat service in which the business operator account can be followed. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a server providing a matching service includes a control unit that performs a first process relating to matching member users with each other based on the status of member users following business accounts in the chat service, who are member users of the matching service and are users of the chat service that can follow business accounts. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0005] [Figure 1-1] A diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a communication system according to the embodiment. [Figure 1-2] A diagram showing an example of a function realized by the control unit of the server according to the embodiment. [Figure 1-3] A diagram showing an example of information stored in the storage unit of the server according to the embodiment. [Figure 1-4] A diagram showing an example of account registration data related to the embodiment. [Figure 1-5] A diagram showing an example of an account management database related to the embodiment. [Figure 1-6] A diagram showing an example of a function realized by the control unit of the terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 1-7] A diagram showing an example of information stored in the memory unit of the terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 1-8] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 1-9] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 1-10] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 1-11] A flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by each device in the embodiment. [Figure 1-12] A flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by each device in the embodiment. [Figure 1-13] A diagram showing an example of server control according to the embodiment. [Figure 1-14] A diagram showing an example of server control according to the embodiment. [Figure 1-15]A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a modified terminal. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0006] <Compliance with legal matters> Please note that the disclosures described herein are subject to compliance with the laws of the implementing country, including the confidentiality of communications, which are necessary for the implementation of these disclosures.

[0007] <Embodiment> In this specification, there are instances where the phrase "for example" is used for clarity, but please note that this does not limit the content of the descriptions in those instances, nor does it limit the entire set of embodiments described below.

[0008] Embodiments for implementing the program etc. related to this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] The production of the terminal of the claimed invention (the terminal of the claimed invention) may include the concept that, for example, a state is created in which the functions of the claimed invention become achievable in the terminal when the program described herein (e.g., an application program) is received (or received and stored in the terminal) on a terminal owned (possessed) by a user, thereby creating a state in which the functions of the claimed invention become achievable (a state is created in which the claimed invention becomes executable).

[0010] Furthermore, the production of the system of the claimed invention (the system of the claimed invention) may also include the concept that, for example, a state is created in which the function of the claimed system becomes achievable (a state is created in which the claimed invention becomes executable) by receiving a program described herein (e.g., an application program) transmitted from a server included in the system to a terminal included in the system (or by the received program being stored in the terminal).

[0011] In addition, in this specification, a system can be configured to have, for example, a plurality of devices. The plurality of devices may be a combination of devices of the same type, a combination of devices of different types, or a combination of devices of the same type and devices of different types. Note that a system can also be considered as, for example, a system in which a plurality of devices cooperate to perform some processing.

[0012] In addition, a system related to a client (client device) and a server can be considered as, for example, at least any one of the following. (1) Terminal & Server (2) Server (3) Terminal

[0013] (1) is, for example, a system including at least one terminal and at least one server. An example of this is a client-server system.

[0014] The server is composed of, for example, the following devices, and may be a single device or a combination of a plurality of devices.

[0015] Specifically, a server may be configured with, for example, at least one processor (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, APU: Accelerated Processing Unit, DSP: Digital Signal Processor (e.g., ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array)), a computer device (processor + memory), a control device, an arithmetic unit, a processing unit, etc., and may be configured with multiple identical units of any one device (e.g., CPU + CPU, homogeneous multicore processor, etc.), or with multiple heterogeneous units of any one device (e.g., CPU + DSP, heterogeneous multicore processor, etc.), or with a combination of multiple devices (e.g., processor + computer device, processor + arithmetic unit, multiple devices made heterogeneous, etc.). Note that the processor may be a virtual processor.

[0016] Furthermore, when a server performs some processing, if it is configured as a single device, the processing described in the embodiment will be performed by that single device. If it is configured as having multiple devices, some processing may be performed by one device and other processing may be performed by the other devices. For example, if it is configured as having a processor and an arithmetic unit, the first processing may be performed by the processor and the second processing may be performed by the arithmetic unit. Furthermore, if the system consists of multiple devices, each device may be arranged in a location that is physically separated from the others.

[0017] Furthermore, server functionality may be provided in the form of PaaS, IaaS, or SaaS in cloud computing, for example.

[0018] Furthermore, the system's control unit can be at least one of either the terminal's control unit or the server's control unit. In other words, for example, the system's control unit can be any of the following: (1A) only the terminal's control unit, (1B) only the server's control unit, or (1C) both the terminal's control unit and the server's control unit.

[0019] Furthermore, the control and processing performed by the system's control unit (hereinafter collectively referred to as "control, etc.") may be (1A) performed solely by the terminal's control unit, (1B) performed solely by the server's control unit, or (1C) performed by both the terminal's control unit and the server's control unit. Furthermore, in (1C), for example, some of the controls that the system would normally perform may be performed by the terminal's control unit, while the remaining controls may be performed by the server's control unit. In this case, the allocation of controls may be equal, or they may be allocated in different proportions.

[0020] Furthermore, when referring to the server's communication unit, if the server is composed of a single device, it may refer to the communication unit itself provided by that single device. Also, if the server is composed of multiple devices, the server's communication unit may include the communication units provided by each of those devices. For example, if a server comprises a first device and a second device, with the first device having a first communication unit and the second device having a second communication unit, the communication unit of the server may be considered a concept that includes both the first and second communication units.

[0021] (2) can be, for example, a system consisting of multiple servers (hereinafter referred to as the "server system"). In this case, the configuration described above can be applied to each server in the same way.

[0022] The control and other functions performed by the server system may be performed by (2A) only one server, (2B) only the other servers, or (2C) one server and the other servers. Furthermore, in (2C), for example, one server may perform some of the control functions that the server system would normally perform, while other servers perform the remaining functions. In this case, the allocation of the controls may be equal, or they may be allocated in different proportions.

[0023] (3) can be, for example, a system composed of multiple terminals. This system can be, for example, as follows: A system that assigns server functions to terminals (a distributed system). This can be achieved, for example, using blockchain technology. A system in which terminals communicate wirelessly with each other. This can be achieved, for example, by using short-range wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) to communicate in a P2P (peer-to-peer) manner.

[0024] Furthermore, the above applies not only to the control unit but also to each functional unit that can be a component of the system, such as the input / output unit, communication unit, memory unit, and clock unit.

[0025] In the following embodiments, for example, a system including a terminal and a server (e.g., a client-server system) is illustrated. Furthermore, it is also possible to apply the server system described in (2) above as the server.

[0026] Furthermore, instead of a system that includes terminals and servers, it is also possible to apply a system that does not include servers, such as the system described in (3) above. In this case, the embodiment can be configured based on the aforementioned blockchain technology. Specifically, for example, data stored and managed on the server described in the following embodiment is stored on the blockchain. Then, when a terminal generates a transaction to the blockchain and the transaction is approved on the blockchain, the data stored on the blockchain is updated.

[0027] Furthermore, even when the term "terminal" is used, it is not limited to the meaning of a terminal as a client device in a client-server system. In other words, the term "terminal" can sometimes include the concept of a device that is not part of a client-server relationship.

[0028] Furthermore, the expression "by communication I / F" is used as appropriate in this specification. This may, for example, indicate that the device transmits and receives various information and data via a communication I / F (via a communication unit) based on the control of a control unit (such as a processor).

[0029] Furthermore, in this specification, terms such as "related to" or "concerning" may refer to "B concerning A" or "B related to A," for example, "B" which has some kind of relationship with "A." Specific examples will be given later.

[0030] Furthermore, in this specification, when a device processes two or more things, such as "transmitting A and B" or "receiving A and B," it may include both cases where "A" and "B" are performed at the same time (hereinafter referred to as "simultaneous") and cases where "A" and "B" are performed at different times (hereinafter referred to as "non-simultaneous"). For example, when referring to the transmission of first and second information, both concepts are acceptable: one where the first and second information are transmitted at the same time, and another where the first and second information are transmitted at different times. Furthermore, taking into consideration lag (time lag), "simultaneous" may include "almost simultaneous."

[0031] Furthermore, even if "A" and "B" are performed at different times, this only requires that the processing targets "A" and "B," and their purposes do not necessarily have to be the same. For example, when transmitting the first piece of information and the second piece of information as described above, it is sufficient to simply transmit the first piece of information and the second piece of information, and this may include cases where the first piece of information and the second piece of information are transmitted for different purposes, as well as cases where they are transmitted for the same purpose.

[0032] In the following examples, a messaging service is given as an example of a service for users to chat (hereinafter referred to as the "chat service"). Furthermore, an application for implementing the chat service is referred to as a "chat application," and an application for implementing the messaging service is referred to as a "messaging application." A chat application, for example, can allow users to chat in a chat room.

[0033] Furthermore, messaging services (MS) (including instant messaging services: IMS) can be considered a form of social networking services (SNS). Therefore, a distinction may or may not be made between messaging services and social networking services. In other words, messaging services may be included within the definition of social networking services.

[0034] Furthermore, the following embodiment illustrates an example of a messaging service: IMS (Instant Messaging Service), which enables the sending and receiving of simple messages between multiple devices (e.g., terminals) via a server. Instant messaging applications, for example, allow users to have conversations in chat rooms.

[0035] A chat room (for example, a talk room) can be a UI (User Interface) or GUI (Graphical User Interface) that allows each user to view content sent and received between multiple users' devices.

[0036] In messaging services, users can, for example, add any account as a friend and exchange messages through a chat room.

[0037] Furthermore, "friends" can be defined as the relationship between a first user and a second user, for example, when their accounts are linked unilaterally or bidirectionally in a messaging application. For example, if there is a mutual association between the first user's account and the second user's account, then it can be said that the first user and the second user are "friends." Also, for example, if there is an association between the first user's account and the second user's account, then it can be said that the first user and the second user are "friends" even if there is no association between the second user's account and the first user's account.

[0038] Furthermore, the chat rooms may include one-on-one chat rooms (hereinafter referred to as "one-on-one chat rooms"), group chat rooms containing multiple users (hereinafter referred to as "group chat rooms"), and chat rooms with OA service providers (for example, businesses that partner with messaging service providers) (hereinafter referred to as "OA chat rooms").

[0039] Furthermore, a messaging application account belonging to a business rather than a regular user may be referred to as "(OA (Official Account))", and a user of such an official account may be referred to as an "official user". This may also be referred to as an "official account user" or "official account business," etc. In contrast, a messaging application account belonging to a user who is not an office automation provider is referred to as a "general account," and a user of a general account is referred to as a "general user." This may also be referred to as a "general account user," etc. In other words, messaging application accounts may include both general accounts and official accounts.

[0040] Furthermore, office automation (OA) service providers may also enable users to send and receive messages with other devices via a server, for example, by using terminals similar to those used by general account users.

[0041] Furthermore, a message (message information) may be, for example, information used in a messaging service that defines the sender and recipient, and may consist of identification information (message ID) for identifying the message and the message content. Furthermore, message content may also refer to the contents of a message excluding the message ID. Message content may consist of one or more pieces of content.

[0042] Furthermore, the information set as identification information for identifying a message is called the "message ID." It can be argued that message content contained within messages with the same message ID is identified by that message ID. Therefore, the identification information used to identify a message can be considered substantially synonymous with the identification information used to identify message content. Alternatively, you may or may not set individual identification information (message content ID) for each message content.

[0043] Content may include, for example, text content in text format, image content in image format (including at least one of still images or moving images), and sound content in sound format (including voice). In addition, other elements such as buttons and icons for user interaction, as well as link content such as URIs (including URLs), may also be included.

[0044] The text may include, for example, at least one of the following: national characters represented by character codes, extended characters, machine-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, figures, and codes. Note that the text does not have to contain at least one of the above characters, extended characters, machine-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, figures, and codes, but may also contain other text.

[0045] An image can contain at least one of several types of image information, such as icons, buttons, stamps, emojis, or banner images.

[0046] Contrary to the definition above, it is also acceptable to define "message" as a higher-level concept than "content," or to define "content" and "message" as synonymous, or not to define them in this way.

[0047] <Embodiment> In recent years, "matching services" have become widely used as services that provide opportunities for users to meet and get to know each other. Matching services can also be described as services that support opportunities for users to meet and get to know each other, and therefore could also be called matching support services.

[0048] Matching services can be used for a variety of purposes. The following are some examples. • "Romance": Matching users who want to find a romantic partner. • "Marriage hunting": Matching users who want to find a marriage partner. • "Recruitment Agency": Matching recruiters with job seekers. • "Hobbies": Matching users with the same hobbies. • "Real Estate Leasing": Matching users who want to rent out real estate with users who want to rent real estate. • "Parking space rental": Matching users who want to rent out their parking spaces with users who want to rent them. • "Car sharing": Matching users who want to lend their cars with users who want to borrow them. • "Ride-hailing service": Matching users who want to give passengers with users who want to travel by ride-hailing service. • "Flea market service": Matching users who want to list and sell items with users who want to buy items. • "Crowdfunding": Matching users who want to support a project with users who want their project to be supported. • "Incidental Shopping": Matching users who want to make purchases with users who are willing to make purchases while they are shopping themselves.

[0049] In this embodiment, the invention will be described as an example in relation to a matching service for the purpose of finding love. Furthermore, the invention described in this embodiment is not limited to matching services for the purpose of romance, but may be applied to various matching services as described above.

[0050] [Matching service] In this embodiment, the matching service is a service that provides and supports opportunities for users to meet and get to know each other using the internet. Users who utilize the matching service in this embodiment will be referred to as "member users" as appropriate. In the following, the act of users meeting or getting to know each other in a matching service will be referred to as "matching" as appropriate.

[0051] In this embodiment of the matching service, a community function may be included as a feature that allows one member user to meet other member users who share common hobbies, interests, values, etc.

[0052] The community function allows member users and businesses operating matching services (hereinafter referred to as "operators" as appropriate) to create communities at their discretion, and member users can join existing communities or communities they have created themselves at their own discretion. For example, there are communities that recruit members who enjoy the outdoors, and communities that recruit people who are looking for a partner with the intention of marriage.

[0053] Thus, since the communities in matching services are features that members actively participate in, the communities that members participate in represent, for example, their hobbies, preferences, values, etc. And since these do not change easily in the short term, it is reasonable to assume that members who join a community are relatively unlikely to leave it.

[0054] On the other hand, some messaging services (messaging applications) allow general users to add business accounts, such as the aforementioned OAs (official accounts), as friends. Adding an OA as a friend is one example of following a business account.

[0055] The OA in this embodiment may be provided with various types of attributes. For example, the following may be included as examples of attributes of the OA. ·Food and drink Apparel ·amusement ·tv set ·movie ·anime ·comics ·game Sports Beauty ·infrastructure

[0056] An office automation (OA) with the OA attribute "food and beverage" can, for example, be an OA of a business that provides services related to food and beverage (a food-related company, a restaurant, etc.). Office automation (OA) with the OA attribute "apparel" can refer to, for example, the OA of businesses that provide services related to apparel (companies that manufacture apparel products, stores that sell apparel brands, etc.). Office automation (OA) with the OA attribute "Amusement" may refer to the OA of a business that provides services related to amusement (which may include aquariums, zoos, amusement parks, etc.).

[0057] Office automation (OA) with the OA attribute "television" can refer to, for example, the OA of a television-related business. Office automation (OA) with the OA attribute "film" can refer, for example, to the OA of a film-related business.

[0058] An OA whose OA attribute is "anime" can refer to, for example, an OA of a business that provides services related to anime (companies that handle the production and sale of anime, companies or stores that handle the production and sale of anime-related goods, etc.). Office automation (OA) with the OA attribute "game" can refer to, for example, the OA of businesses that provide services related to games (companies that produce and sell games, companies or stores that produce and sell game-related goods, etc.).

[0059] Office automation (OA) with the OA attribute "sports" can refer to, for example, the OA of a business that provides services related to sports (such as companies or stores that manufacture or sell sports equipment, or companies that operate sports teams). An office automation (OA) with the OA attribute "beauty" can refer to an OA of a business that provides services related to beauty (such as companies or stores that manufacture or sell beauty products, beauty salons, nail salons, etc.).

[0060] Office automation (OA) with the "infrastructure" attribute refers to, for example, the OA of businesses related to infrastructure, which are facilities, equipment, and services that form the foundation of society, industry, and users' lives (such as electric companies, gas companies, waterworks bureaus, post offices, transportation companies, and companies that operate transportation services).

[0061] Please note that the above OA attributes are merely examples and are not limited to those listed above.

[0062] In messaging services, the following are some examples of situations where you might become friends with an office automation (OA). • When the user actively befriends OA • When the user passively becomes friends with OA

[0063] A user actively befriending an OA (Office Automation) can be described, for example, by using the search function in a messaging service to find a desired OA and then befriending it. In this case, it is likely that the user is trying to befriend the OA based on their own hobbies, preferences, values, etc.

[0064] A passive way for a user to become friends with an online office automation (OA) system is, for example, when a user is shopping in a store and a store employee suggests that becoming friends with the OA system will entitle the user to a discount campaign, leading the user to become friends with the OA system. In this case, the user is often trying to become friends with the OA system regardless of their own hobbies, preferences, or values, and in the example above, it is likely that the user's motivation to continue being friends with the OA system after receiving the discount service during their purchase will be low.

[0065] In this case, when a user actively befriends an OA (Office Automation) system, their hobbies, preferences, and values ​​tend not to change much in the short term, so they often remain friends with that OA system for a relatively long period of time. However, if a user passively befriends an OA (Office Automation) service, after enjoying the benefits of being friends with the OA, they may unfriend or block the OA if it does not reflect their hobbies, preferences, or values. Similarly, even if a user actively befriends an OA, depending on the frequency of notifications from the OA and the user's needs at the time, they may unfriend or block the OA, just as they would when passively befriending an OA.

[0066] Therefore, in matching service communities, the hobbies, preferences, and values ​​of member users do not change much in a short period of time, so users are less likely to leave the community. On the other hand, in messaging service OAs, it can be said that incidents such as users unfriending or blocking OAs are more likely to occur.

[0067] While it is possible to match users based on information about the community of the matching service (such as the community itself and the type of community), this embodiment is an example of increasing opportunities for users to meet and get to know each other on the matching service by using information about the OAs (Office Automation) that users of the matching service have become friends with on the messaging service.

[0068] With this configuration, in matching services, the number of opportunities for users to find matches increases, improving convenience for users of matching services. In messaging services, it becomes possible to reduce the number of times users unfriend or block OAs they are already friends with.

[0069] <Examples> This embodiment describes an example of a matching service that matches member users with other member users based on the OAs (OA following status) that member users have added as friends in the messaging service. The contents described in this embodiment are equally applicable to modifications and other variations.

[0070] Furthermore, the following forms can be applied to implement the matching service: (A1) A form in which the matching service function is provided as one of the features of the messaging application. (A2) A form in which a messaging service function is incorporated as one of the features of a matching application that provides a matching service. (B1) Forms of an application that has messaging service functionality and matching service functionality (integrated application) (C1) A configuration in which the matching application is configured as a separate application from the messaging application. (C2) A configuration in which the messaging application is configured as a separate application from the matching application. (D) Configuration of the matching application as a standalone application

[0071] In the forms of (A1), (A2), and (B1), for example, the messaging service provider can be the same provider as the matching service provider. In this case, one possible approach is to use a common account for both the user's account in the messaging application and the user's account in the matching application. Alternatively, in this case, the user's account in the messaging application and the user's account in the matching application can be automatically associated (linked).

[0072] In the (C1)~(C2) configurations, for example, the messaging service provider can be a different business from the matching service provider. Furthermore, in the (C1)~(C2) configurations, it is possible to perform a process (a linking process) that associates the user's account in the messaging application with the user's account in the matching application.

[0073] In the following explanation, for example, we will describe a configuration in which a matching service provider operates and manages server 10 that provides matching services, and a messaging service provider operates and manages a server (not shown) that is different from server 10 and provides messaging services.

[0074] Here, although the matching service provider and the messaging service provider are different businesses, they are affiliated companies, so it can be assumed that information about common users of each service can be shared with each other relatively easily.

[0075] Furthermore, in the following explanation, the user of terminal 20A communicating with server 10 will be referred to as "User AA," the user of terminal 20B as "User BB," the user of terminal 20C as "User CC," and so on.

[0076] <System Configuration> Figure 1-1 shows an example of the system configuration of the communication system 1 in this embodiment. In the communication system 1, for example, a server 10 and one or more terminals 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C, ...) are connected via a network 30.

[0077] Server 10 has a function to provide, for example, a matching service to terminals 20 owned by users via the network 30. Server 10 can also be described as a matching service server, etc. In this embodiment, for example, the user of Server 10 is a company that provides matching services (a matching service provider). Note that the number of Servers 10 and Terminals 20 connected to Network 30 are not limited to those described above. In this embodiment, the "matching service" refers to a service provided by a business operator (server 10), such as a company that provides flea market services, and may be provided to a user (user's terminal 20), for example.

[0078] Terminal 20 (Terminal 20A, Terminal 20B, Terminal 20C, ...) can be any information processing terminal capable of realizing the functions described in each embodiment. Terminal 20 includes, for example, smartphones, mobile phones (feature phones), computers (e.g., desktops, laptops, tablets, etc.), media computer platforms (e.g., cable, satellite set-top boxes, digital video recorders), handheld computer devices (e.g., PDAs (personal digital assistants), email clients, etc.), wearable devices (glasses-type devices, watch-type devices, etc.), VR (Virtual Reality) terminals, smart speakers (voice recognition devices), or other types of computers or communication platforms. Terminal 20 may also be referred to as an information processing terminal.

[0079] The configurations of terminals 20A, 20B, and 20C can, for example, be identical. Furthermore, if necessary, the terminal used by user X may be referred to as terminal 20X, and user information in a predetermined service associated with user X or terminal 20X may be referred to as user information X, or not. User information refers to information about a user associated with an account used by that user in a given service. User information includes, for example, information associated with the user, such as the user's name, user icon image, user's age, user's gender, user's address, user's hobbies and preferences, and user identifier, which are entered by the user or assigned by the given service. It may consist of any one of these items, a combination thereof, or no combination thereof.

[0080] Network 30 plays the role of connecting each device that constitutes communication system 1. In other words, network 30 refers to a communication network that provides connection paths so that the various devices described above can send and receive data after they have been connected.

[0081] One or more parts of network 30 may or may not be wired or wireless networks. Network 30 may include, for example, an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), part of the internet, part of a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a mobile phone network, an integrated service digital network (ISDN), wireless LAN, LTE (long term evolution), CDMA (code division multiple access), Bluetooth (registered trademark), satellite communications, or two or more combinations thereof. Network 30 may include one or more networks 30.

[0082] Server 10 (not limited to, but an example of a server, information processing device, or information management device) has the function of providing a predetermined service (in this embodiment, a matching service) to terminals 20, etc. Server 10 may be any information processing device that can realize the functions described in each embodiment. Server 10 includes, for example, a server device, a computer (e.g., a desktop, laptop, tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (e.g., a cable, satellite set-top box, digital video recorder), a handheld computer device (e.g., a PDA, email client, etc.), or other types of computers or communication platforms. Server 10 may also be referred to as an information processing device. If it is not necessary to distinguish between Server 10 and Terminal 20, Server 10 and Terminal 20 may or may not be referred to as information processing devices.

[0083] [Hardware configuration of each device] The hardware configuration of each device included in communication system 1 will be described below.

[0084] (1) Terminal hardware configuration Figure 1-1 shows an example of the hardware configuration of terminal 20. Terminal 20 includes, for example, a control unit 21 (CPU: central processing unit), a storage unit 28, a communication interface 22, an input / output unit 23, a clock unit 29A, and a position calculation information detection unit 29B. Each hardware component of terminal 20 is interconnected via, for example, bus B. It is not necessary for terminal 20's hardware configuration to include all components. For example, terminal 20 may have a configuration in which individual components or multiple components are removed, or it may not.

[0085] The communication interface 22 transmits and receives various types of data via the network 30. Communication may be performed via wired or wireless connections, and any communication protocol may be used as long as communication between the interfaces is possible. The communication interface 22 has the function of communicating with various devices, such as the server 10, via the network 30. The communication interface 22 transmits various types of data to the server 10 and other devices according to instructions from the control unit 21. The communication interface 22 also receives various types of data transmitted from the server 10 and other devices and transmits them to the control unit 21. The communication interface 22 may also be simply referred to as the communication unit. Furthermore, if the communication interface 22 is composed of a physically structured circuit, it may be referred to as the communication circuit.

[0086] The input / output unit 23 includes devices for inputting various operations to the terminal 20, and devices for outputting processing results processed by the terminal 20. The input / output unit 23 may have an integrated input and output unit, or it may have separate input and output units, or it may not have to be integrated.

[0087] The input unit is implemented by any or a combination of any type of device capable of receiving user input and transmitting the information related to the input to the control unit 21. The input unit includes, for example, hardware keys such as touch panels, touch displays, and keyboards, pointing devices such as mice, cameras (operation input via video), and microphones (operation input via voice).

[0088] The output unit is implemented by any or a combination of any type of device capable of outputting the processing results processed by the control unit 21. The output unit includes, for example, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker (for audio output), a lens (for example, 3D output or hologram output), a printer, and the like.

[0089] This is just one example, but the input / output unit 23 may include, for instance, a display unit 24, an audio input unit 25, an audio output unit 26, and an imaging unit 27.

[0090] The display unit 24 is implemented by any or a combination of any type of device capable of displaying data according to the display data written to the frame buffer. The display unit 24 includes, for example, touch panels, touch displays, monitors (e.g., liquid crystal displays and OLEDs (organic electroluminescence displays)), head-mounted displays (HDMs), projection mapping, holograms, and devices capable of displaying images, text information, etc., in air (which may or may not be a vacuum). These display units 24 may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D.

[0091] The sound input unit 25 is used for inputting sound data (including voice data; the same applies hereinafter). The sound input unit 25 includes a microphone, etc. The sound output unit 26 is used for outputting sound data. The sound output unit 26 includes a speaker and the like. The imaging unit 27 is used to acquire image data (including still image data and moving image data; the same applies hereinafter). The imaging unit 27 includes a camera, etc.

[0092] If the input / output unit 23 is a touch panel, the input / output unit 23 and the display unit 24 may be arranged facing each other and have substantially the same size and shape.

[0093] The clock unit 29A is the built-in clock of the terminal 20 and outputs time information (timing information). The clock unit 29A is configured to include, for example, a clock using a crystal oscillator. The clock unit 29A can also be described as, for example, a timing unit or a time information detection unit.

[0094] The clock unit 29A may or may not have a clock that conforms to the NITZ (Network Identity and Time Zone) standard, etc.

[0095] The position calculation information detection unit 29B is a functional unit that detects (measures) information necessary for the control unit 21 to calculate (measure) the position of its own terminal 20 (hereinafter referred to as "position calculation information"). The position calculation information detection unit 29B can also be described as, for example, a position calculation sensor unit.

[0096] The position calculation information detection unit 29B includes, for example, a satellite positioning sensor (satellite positioning unit) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using a satellite positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System), an inertial measurement sensor (inertial measurement unit (IMU)) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using an inertial navigation system, and a UWB positioning sensor (UWB positioning unit) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using UWB (Ultra Wide Band).

[0097] The satellite positioning unit includes, for example, an RF receiving circuit that converts RF (Radio Frequency) signals, including positioning satellite signals transmitted from positioning satellites received by an antenna (not shown), into digital signals, and a baseband processing circuit that performs correlation calculations on the digital signals output from the RF receiving circuit to capture positioning satellite signals, and outputs information such as satellite orbit data and time data extracted from the positioning satellite signals as position calculation information.

[0098] The inertial measurement unit has inertial sensors, which are sensors that detect information necessary to calculate the position of terminal 20 by inertial navigation calculations. The inertial sensors include, for example, a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope, and output the acceleration detected by the accelerometer and the angular velocity detected by the gyroscope as position calculation information.

[0099] The UWB positioning unit includes, for example, an ultra-wideband RF (Radio Frequency) receiving circuit that converts an ultra-wideband RF signal, including a positioning ultra-wideband pulse signal transmitted from a positioning beacon received by an antenna (not shown), into a digital signal, and a relative position calculation processing circuit that calculates the relative position between the terminal 20 and the positioning beacon based on the digital signal output from the ultra-wideband RF receiving circuit. For example, the UWB positioning unit may or may not make terminal 20 function as a positioning beacon by transmitting an ultra-wideband RF signal including a positioning ultra-wideband pulse signal from an antenna (not shown).

[0100] The control unit 21 calculates the position of its own terminal 20 at regular or specific intervals, for example, based on the position calculation information detected by the position calculation information detection unit 29B. The position of the terminal is referred to as the "terminal position," and the calculated terminal position is referred to as the "calculated terminal position." The control unit 21 may or may not store the calculated terminal position in the storage unit 28 as calculated terminal position history data, associated with the date and time the calculated terminal position was calculated.

[0101] The control unit 21 has physically structured circuitry to perform functions realized by code or instructions contained within the program, and is realized, for example, by a data processing device built into the hardware. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be described as a control circuit.

[0102] The control unit 21 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), and an FPGA (field programmable gate array).

[0103] The storage unit 28 has the function of storing various programs and data necessary for the operation of the terminal 20. The storage unit 28 includes various storage media such as HDD (hard disk drive), SSD (solid state drive), flash memory, RAM (random access memory), and ROM (read-only memory). The storage unit 28 may or may not be referred to as memory.

[0104] Terminal 20 stores program P in storage unit 28, and by executing program P, the control unit 21 executes the processing of each part included in the control unit 21. In other words, program P stored in storage unit 28 enables terminal 20 to realize the various functions executed by the control unit 21. Furthermore, this program P may or may not be described as a program module.

[0105] (2) Server hardware configuration Figure 1-1 shows an example of the hardware configuration of server 10. Server 10 includes, for example, a control unit 11 (CPU), a storage unit 15, a communication interface 14, an input / output unit 12, a display unit 13, and a clock unit 19. Each component of the server 10's hardware is interconnected, for example, via bus B. It should be noted that the server 10's hardware configuration does not necessarily include all components. For example, the server 10's hardware may be configured to exclude individual components or multiple components, or it may not.

[0106] The control unit 11 has physically structured circuitry to perform functions realized by code or instructions contained within the program, and is realized, for example, by a data processing device built into the hardware.

[0107] The control unit 11 is typically a central processing unit (CPU), but may also be a microprocessor, processor core, multiprocessor, ASIC, FPGA, or otherwise. In this disclosure, the control unit 11 is not limited to these.

[0108] The storage unit 15 has the function of storing various programs and data necessary for the operation of the server 10. The storage unit 15 is implemented using various storage media such as HDDs, SSDs, and flash memory. However, in this disclosure, the storage unit 15 is not limited to these. Also, the storage unit 15 may or may not be referred to as memory.

[0109] The communication interface 14 transmits and receives various types of data via the network 30. Communication may be performed via wired or wireless connections, and any communication protocol may be used as long as communication between the interfaces is possible. The communication interface 14 has the function of communicating with various devices, such as terminals 20, via the network 30. The communication interface 14 transmits various types of data to various devices, such as terminals 20, according to instructions from the control unit 11. The communication interface 14 also receives various types of data transmitted from various devices, such as terminals 20, and transmits them to the control unit 11. The communication interface 14 may also be simply referred to as the communication unit. Furthermore, if the communication interface 14 is composed of a physically structured circuit, it may be referred to as the communication circuit.

[0110] The input / output unit 12 includes devices for inputting various operations to the server 10, and devices for outputting processing results processed by the server 10. The input / output unit 12 may have an integrated input unit and an output unit, or it may have separate input and output units, or it may not have to be integrated.

[0111] The input unit is implemented by any or a combination of any type of device capable of receiving user input and transmitting the information related to the input to the control unit 11. The input unit is typically implemented by hardware keys such as a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse. The input unit may or may not include, for example, a touch panel, a camera (operation input via video), or a microphone (operation input via voice).

[0112] The output unit is implemented by any or a combination of any type of device capable of outputting the processing results processed by the control unit 11. The output unit includes, for example, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker (sound output), a lens (e.g., 3D output or hologram output), a printer, and the like.

[0113] This is just one example, but the input / output unit 12 may include, for instance, a display unit 13.

[0114] The display unit 13 is implemented by a display or the like. Typically, the display is implemented by a monitor (for example, a liquid crystal display or an OLED (organic electroluminescence display)). The display may also be a head-mounted display (HDM) or not. These displays may or may not be capable of displaying data in 3D. In this disclosure, the display is not limited to these.

[0115] The clock unit 19 is the built-in clock of the server 10 and outputs time information (timing information). The clock unit 19 is configured to include, for example, a hardware clock such as an RTC (Real Time Clock) or a system clock. The clock unit 19 can also be described as, for example, a timing unit or a time information detection unit.

[0116] (3) Others Server 10 stores program P in storage unit 15, and by executing program P, the control unit 11 performs the processing of each part included in the control unit 11. In other words, program P stored in storage unit 15 enables server 10 to realize each function executed by the control unit 11. This program P may or may not be described as a program module. The same applies to other devices.

[0117] Each embodiment of this disclosure is described as being realized by the CPU of terminal 20 and / or server 10 executing program P. The same applies to other devices.

[0118] Furthermore, the control unit 21 of terminal 20 and / or the control unit 11 of server 10 may implement each process not only with a CPU having a control circuit, but also with logic circuits (hardware) or dedicated circuits formed on an integrated circuit (IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, LSI (Large Scale Integration)), etc., or they may not. Also, these circuits may be implemented by one or more integrated circuits, and the multiple processes shown in each embodiment may be implemented by a single integrated circuit, or they may not. In addition, LSIs are sometimes called VLSI, Super LSI, Ultra LSI, etc., depending on the degree of integration. For this reason, the control unit 21 may or may not be described as a control circuit. The same applies to other devices.

[0119] Furthermore, the program P (e.g., a software program, a computer program, or a program module) of each embodiment of the present disclosure may or may not be provided stored on a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium is a “non-temporary tangible medium” capable of storing the program P. Also, the program P may or may not be for the purpose of implementing some of the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the program P may or may not be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can implement the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure in combination with a program P already recorded on the storage medium.

[0120] The storage medium may include one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits (ICs) (e.g., field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)), hard disk drives (HDDs), hybrid hard drives (HHDs), optical disks, optical disk drives (ODDs), magneto-optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy diskettes, floppy disk drives (FDDs), magnetic tapes, solid-state drives (SSDs), RAM drives, secure digital cards, or drives, any other suitable storage medium, or any two or more suitable combinations thereof. The storage medium may be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile, where appropriate. The storage medium is not limited to these examples and may be any device or medium capable of storing program P. The storage medium may or may not be referred to as memory.

[0121] The server 10 and / or terminal 20 can realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment by reading the program P stored in the storage medium and executing the read program P. The same applies to other devices.

[0122] Furthermore, the program P of this disclosure may or may not be provided to the server 10 and / or terminal 20 via any transmission medium capable of transmitting programs (such as a communication network or broadcast waves). The server 10 and / or terminal 20 realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment by executing the program P downloaded, for example, via the Internet. The same applies to other devices.

[0123] Furthermore, each embodiment of this disclosure can also be realized in the form of a data signal in which the program P is embodied by electronic transmission. At least part of the processing on server 10 and / or terminal 20 may or may not be implemented by cloud computing consisting of one or more computers. The configuration may be such that at least some or all of the processing on terminal 20 is performed by server 10, or it may not be so. In this case, the configuration may be such that at least some or all of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 21 of terminal 20 is performed by server 10, or it may not be so. The configuration may be such that at least some or all of the processing in the server 10 is performed by the terminal 20, or it may not be so. In this case, the configuration may be such that at least some or all of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 11 of the server 10 is performed by the terminal 20, or it may not be so. Unless otherwise explicitly stated, the configuration of the determination in the embodiments of this disclosure is not mandatory, and a predetermined process may be performed if the determination condition is met, or if the determination condition is not met, or not.

[0124] The programs disclosed herein are implemented using, for example, scripting languages ​​such as ActionScript and JavaScript®, compiled languages ​​such as Objective-C and Java®, and markup languages ​​such as HTML Living Standard.

[0125] [Functional Configuration of Each Device] (1) Server Functional Configuration Figure 1-2 shows an example of a function realized by the control unit 11 of the server 10 in this embodiment. The control unit 11 includes, for example, an application management processing unit 111 as a functional unit.

[0126] The application management processing unit 111 has the function of executing application management processing according to an application management processing program 151 stored in the storage unit 15, for example.

[0127] Figure 1-3 shows an example of the information stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 in this embodiment. The storage unit 15 stores, for example, an application management processing program 151 that is executed as an application management process, account registration data 153, and an account management database 155.

[0128] Account registration data 153 is registration data related to an account for a matching service (matching application), and an example of its data structure is shown in Figure 1-4. The account registration data 153 stores, for example, the username, application ID, and other registration information in association with each other.

[0129] The username is the name of the account on device 20 using this application. For example, the name registered by the user of device 20 when using the application is stored.

[0130] An application ID is information used to identify an application account, or the account itself. This application ID is preferably a unique value for each account, for example, a unique value (unique value) is set and stored for each account by the server 10. The Application ID is information associated with terminal 20 or the user of terminal 20, and is an example of information about the terminal or the user of the terminal.

[0131] Other registration information may include, for example, identification information to identify terminal 20, the phone number of terminal 20 (terminal phone number), email address (terminal email address), and authentication information such as passwords used for various authentications in the application (login password, authentication password, etc.).

[0132] Identification information for identifying terminal 20 can be, for example, a terminal ID (e.g., IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)).

[0133] For example, user information may be associated with and stored in other registration information.

[0134] Note that you may or may not use a "User ID" instead of an "Application ID". Also, if the application can only register one account per terminal 20, then for example, "Identification information for identifying terminal 20 = Identification information for identifying the user of terminal 20 = Application ID" can be used.

[0135] Furthermore, for example, it may or may not be possible to assign multiple terminal IDs to a single application ID. In this case, it may or may not be possible to launch the application simultaneously on multiple terminals 20 using a single application ID as the target for identification (login).

[0136] Furthermore, it is possible to apply a method of managing accounts using information such as the terminal's phone number instead of various IDs such as application IDs. In this case, instead of storing information such as the application ID in the account registration data 153, information such as the terminal phone number can be stored in the account registration data 153. Alternatively, the application ID information may be associated with the terminal phone number information on a one-to-one basis, or it may not be necessary to do so.

[0137] For the sake of simplicity, in the following embodiment, it will be assumed that one account is registered for each terminal 20. Furthermore, in this case, as described above, "identification information for identifying terminal 20 = identification information for identifying the user of terminal 20 = application ID," therefore, the term "user of the account" used in the following explanation may or may not be considered synonymous with "terminal of the account."

[0138] The account management database 155 is, for example, a database for managing member users (member user accounts) of a matching service, and an example of its data structure is shown in Figure 1-5. The account management database 155 stores account management data as management data for each account.

[0139] Each account management data entry stores associated information such as the application ID, user information management data, and OA follow-up status management data.

[0140] The application ID is information used to identify an account; for example, the application ID registered in account registration data 153 is stored.

[0141] User information management data is data used to manage the personal information of users associated with this account in the matching service. User information management data stores, for example, a username and other user information in association. The username may be set to store the username registered in account registration data 153.

[0142] Other user information may include, for example, information about the user's gender, information about the user's "likes" (number of "likes" given, application ID of the user who "liked" the user, number of "likes" received, application ID of the user who "liked" the user), information about the communities the user has registered with, information about users with whom a match has been made, information about interactions between users, information about the user's real name, information about the user's place of residence, information about the user's age, and information about the date the user registered with the matching service.

[0143] The OA follow status management data is used to store information about OAs that this account has added as friends on the messaging service. The OA follow-up status management data stores information such as the OA ID, OA name, OA attributes, and other OA information in association with each other.

[0144] OAID may be information used to identify the OA among the accounts in a messaging application, or it may be the OA itself.

[0145] The OA name may be, for example, information corresponding to the OAID, and may be the name of the OA stored and managed by the messaging application (messaging service) server (messaging server).

[0146] OA attributes may be, for example, information corresponding to an OAID, and may be attributes of an OA stored and managed by a messaging server.

[0147] Other OA information may include, for example, information corresponding to the OAID, such as OA icon images stored and managed on the messaging server.

[0148] For example, the account management data shown at the very front of the drawing is for user AA (Application ID: U0001M) (where M is male and F is female), and the username in the user information management data is stored as "AA". In addition, the OA follow status management data stores (1) OAID "OA0032", OA name "○○ Golf", OA attribute "Sports", (2) OAID "OA0056", OA name "○○ Nyan Monogatari", OA attribute "Anime", (3) OAID "OA1012", OA name "○○ Electric", OA attribute "Infrastructure", etc., and user AA follows these OAs in the messaging service.

[0149] (2) Terminal Functional Configuration Figure 1-6 shows an example of a function realized by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. The control unit 21 includes, for example, an application processing unit 211 as a functional unit for executing application processing according to an application processing program 281 stored in the storage unit 28.

[0150] Figure 1-7 shows an example of data stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. The memory unit 28 stores, for example, an application processing program 281 that is executed as application processing, and an application ID 283 that corresponds to the terminal 20 or the user account of the terminal 20.

[0151] <Display screen> The following describes examples of display screens. The screen transitions described below are merely examples of screen transitions for implementing the method of this disclosure. Some screens may be omitted or additional screens may be added to the screen transitions exemplified below. Furthermore, the terminology used in the display screens described below may differ from the terminology used in the processes described later (some terms may not be consistent).

[0152] In the following example, we will describe a case where terminal 20 is a smartphone equipped with a vertically oriented display unit 24. The smartphone has, for example, a touch panel that functions as an input unit, positioned opposite its display, to form a touchscreen. When an element such as an icon, button, item, or input area is displayed on the display, and a part of the touch panel that is opposite the area on which the element is displayed is operated by the user, the program associated with that element or a subroutine of that program may be executed.

[0153] In addition, the flow of screen transitions may be explained by showing predetermined screens displayed on different terminals 20, either within a single drawing or across multiple drawings. In this case, for example, the predetermined screen may be displayed on different terminals 20 based on (or triggered by) at least one of the following: • Automatically displayed • When a notification (including push notifications, etc.; the same applies hereinafter) is sent to device 20, and the user takes action in response to the notification, it will be displayed. • No notification is sent to device 20, but it will be displayed when the user performs a specific action on the application. • A notification is sent to terminal 20, and the user performs a specified action on the application that sent the notification, which then displays the message.

[0154] In the following example, we will illustrate the case where accounts that are friends with a common OA in a matching application are terminal 20A of user AA (for example, a male member user) and terminal 20B of user BB (for example, a female member user). In this example, the name of the matching application is written as "Matching App".

[0155] Figure 1-8 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this embodiment. Figure 1-8 shows an example of a scenario in a matching application where user AA is searching for a preferred member user in order to be matched with other member users.

[0156] Figure 1-8, on the left, shows an example of the search screen of the matching application displayed on terminal 20A, displaying a list of other member users (search member users) suggested to the user of terminal 20A (user AA). This screen may appear, for example, when an icon is tapped to transition to the search screen of a matching application.

[0157] The search screen includes a search member user information display area (ER) for displaying search member users. The search member user information display area ER displays information about female member users such as User BB, User CC, User DD, and User EE (including photos, usernames in the matching service, age, and place of residence).

[0158] Here, in the matching candidate search process (S120) described later, based on the fact that user AA and user BB have registered a common OA (for example, the OA for "○○nyan Monogatari") as a friend, matching candidate search result information is sent from server 10 to terminal 20A (S130), and the matching candidate search result information is displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A (A110). Specifically, in this example, the matching candidate search result information (for example, the common OA icon CIC containing the words "Friends with the same official account") is superimposed on a predetermined area of ​​the information corresponding to user BB in the search member user information display area ER (for example, above user BB's photo).

[0159] When the common OA icon CIC is tapped by the user, the display changes to the screen shown on the right side of Figure 1-8. On this screen, as a common OA detailed information CI corresponding to the detailed information of the common OA icon CIC, an object is displayed, for example, as a speech bubble shape from the common OA icon CIC, and contains information indicating that user BB has also registered the OA of "○○nyan Monogatari" as a friend.

[0160] In this way, for example, on the search screen, if other members who have added the same OA as a friend as user AA are displayed at a glance, user AA can easily identify other members who are likely to engage in conversations on common topics. This also serves as an incentive to send "likes," and is expected to have the effect of matching many users in a matching application.

[0161] Furthermore, when a "Like!" (an example of information indicating the sending or receiving of a favor) is sent by user AA, who is friends with the common OA, the favor received information (B120) displayed on the display unit of user BB's terminal 20B may include information indicating that the "Like!" was sent by user AA, who is friends with the common OA (for example, a message such as, "You've received a Like! from user AA, who is friends with the same official account that you are friends with. You might find something to talk about together! Why not send a Like back?").

[0162] Figure 1-9 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this embodiment. Figure 1-9 shows an example of a scenario in a matching application where user AA and user BB are matched and exchanging messages (chatting) in the matching application's chat room. During this process, user BB is introduced to an OA who is a friend of user AA but is not a friend of user AA.

[0163] The screen on the left in Figure 1-9 shows an example of a chat room screen in a matching application, called the "conversation screen," and consists of a chat information display area CR for chatting with the chat partner (in this example, user BB). The chat information display area CR shows the conversation between user AA and user BB.

[0164] Here, in the chat processing within the matching service described later (S170), when information for introducing an OA that one member user has added as a friend but the other member user has not added as a friend (for example, information for introducing unfollowed OAs) is sent from the server 10 to the terminal 20, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may, for example, display the information for introducing unfollowed OAs on the display unit 24. In the following, in the scenario described above, a member user who has added a specific OA (Office Automation) as a friend will be referred to as a "followed user," and a member user who has not added that specific OA as a friend will be referred to as an "unfollowed user."

[0165] The chat information display area CR shows, for example, chat content CCT1 (an example of unfollowed OA introduction information) originating from a matching service provider. This chat content CCT1 includes information about OAs that user BB has added as friends, but user AA has not, such as OAs for "○○ Cosmetics" and "○○ Aquarium," as well as add buttons ABBT to launch the messaging application and add each OA as a friend (add to friend).

[0166] Here, if the user taps the additional button ABBT corresponding to the OA for "○○ Cosmetics," for example, the display changes to the screen shown on the right side of Figure 1-9. Specifically, the messaging application is launched on terminal 20A, and in this example, the home screen corresponding to the OA for "○○ Cosmetics" is displayed.

[0167] Here, when the user taps the add button ABT to add the "○○ Cosmetics" OA as a friend, the "○○ Cosmetics" OA is added as a friend to the messaging service user AA's account (not shown).

[0168] In this way, by displaying information in the matching application that introduces an OA (Office Automation) that one member user has added as a friend but the other member user has not, and information that guides users to add it as a friend, it becomes possible to make unfollowed users aware of that OA. Then, by having them add that OA as a friend, it becomes possible to acquire new common topics of conversation with the followed user, thereby improving the effectiveness of the matching app.

[0169] Furthermore, even if the reason why unfollowed users add such OAs as friends is to gain common topics of conversation with users they already follow, it becomes possible to make users who would not normally be interested in such OAs aware of their existence and add them as friends. In addition, OA providers can reach a new segment of users.

[0170] Furthermore, if a member user adds a new OA (Open Access Program) as a friend based on unfollowed OA introduction information, they may choose not to notify the other user. This allows users to naturally discuss the newly added shared OA without the other user knowing.

[0171] Figure 1-10 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this embodiment. Figure 1-10 is an example of a scene related to the fact that user AA and user BB have decided to meet in person (go on a date).

[0172] The screen on the left in Figure 1-10 shows an example of the interaction screen of the matching application displayed on terminal 20A. The chat information display area CR shows the conversation that took place between user AA and user BB on Tuesday, October 8th (in this example, the conversation in which they decided to go on a date at 8:00 PM on Friday, October 18th).

[0173] In this embodiment, the matching application may be equipped with a scheduling function for managing member users' daily lives, work schedules, and date schedules with other users.

[0174] Based on the fact that User AA has a date scheduled with User BB at 8:00 PM on Friday, October 18th, User AA may use the scheduling function of the matching application to enter the details of "Dinner with User BB on Friday, October 18th at 8:00 PM" into the designated input form, and allow the schedule information to be set by Server 10 or the like.

[0175] The control unit 11 of the server 10 may, as described later, send date support suggestion information to the terminal 20A based on the configured schedule information, for example, one week before the scheduled date (October 11th) (S175: YES → S180). The terminal 20A may then receive the date support suggestion information and display it (A150).

[0176] Figure 1-10 shows an example of the interaction screen displayed in this case, with the chat information display area CR showing chat content CCT2 (an example of dating support proposal information) sent from the matching service provider. This chat content CCT2 includes information related to assisting member users with dating, such as information about "Salon XX" (a beauty salon) and "Bar XX" (a restaurant), as well as the aforementioned add button ABT and reservation button RBT for booking services corresponding to each OA.

[0177] Here, for example, when a user taps the reservation button RBT on the OA for "Salon XX," the user AA can make a reservation by either being redirected to the reservation page of the corresponding reservation service or by launching the application of the corresponding reservation service.

[0178] In this way, when a matching application decides to actually go on a date, suggesting information about OA (Office Automation) related to services that support the date makes it possible to improve the convenience of member users before the date, and also helps businesses that provide services to support the date to acquire new customers.

[0179] <Processing> Figure 1-11 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by each device in this embodiment. In this figure, from left to right, an example of processing performed by the control unit 21 of user AA's terminal 20A, an example of processing performed by the control unit 11 of server 10, and an example of processing performed by the control unit 21 of user BB's terminal 20B are shown. Here, we will illustrate the process when user AA and user BB are searched for as matching candidates and a match is found between them.

[0180] The processes described below are merely examples of processes for implementing the method of this disclosure, and are not limited to these. Additionally, you may add other steps to the process described below, or omit (delete) some steps from the process described below.

[0181] The control unit 11 of the server 10 performs an account management data update process to update the account management data in the account management database 155 (S110). Specifically, for the target terminals 20 (in this example, terminals 20A and 20B), it obtains information on the latest OA follow status in the messaging application, for example, and updates the OA follow status management data in the account management data corresponding to that account. Similarly, it updates other user information in the user information management data as needed.

[0182] Here, the processing in S110 may be performed by the control unit 11 of the server 10 when a predetermined condition is met, and the predetermined condition may be, for example, at least one of the following conditions. (A1) The matching application was launched on terminal 20. (A2) A request to display the search screen was received from terminal 20. (A3) The set time or date has arrived, or a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the last execution of process S110. In this case, for example, when applying conditions (A1) and (A2), the terminal 20 in the conditions may be treated as the target terminal 20 for processing. Furthermore, for example, when applying condition (A3), each terminal 20 may be treated as a target terminal 20 and processed accordingly.

[0183] Next, the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs a matching candidate search process to search for users who are candidates for matching (hereinafter referred to as "matching candidate users") (S120). Specifically, for example, for each user using the matching service, it refers to the OA follow status management data of the corresponding account management data and searches for users who are following the same OA. In this case, based on the OA attribute, for example, the follow-up status of infrastructure-related OA may be excluded. This is because the follow-up status of infrastructure-related OA often does not reflect the user's hobbies, preferences, values, etc. Conversely, the follow-up status of specific OA attributes that tend to reflect the user's hobbies, preferences, values, etc. may be excluded. If it's a matching service that connects people of the opposite sex, you should search for users of the opposite sex. Alternatively, you can search for users who meet certain criteria, such as being the same age or living in the same (or nearby) area.

[0184] In this example, the process in S120 selects users AA and BB as matching candidate users.

[0185] Furthermore, in S120, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, for example, prioritize selecting matching candidates users who have both registered OAs with a small number of friends (for example, OAs with a number of friends below a predetermined number) as friends. Alternatively, it may prioritize selecting matching candidates users who have both registered OAs related to the member user's place of residence (for example, OAs related to stores or facilities in the place of residence) as friends.

[0186] Next, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits the matching candidate search result information (for example, information associating the identification information and image information of the matching candidate user) which is the information of the search results of the matching candidate user processed in S120, to terminals 20A and 20B respectively via the communication I / F 14 (S130). If no matching candidate user is selected in the S120 process, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may choose not to send matching candidate search result information, or it may choose to send a message indicating that no matching candidate user was selected as part of the search result information.

[0187] When the terminal 20A receives matching candidate search result information from the server 10 via the communication interface 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays the received matching candidate search result information on the display unit 24 (A110). Similarly, on terminal 20B, the matching candidate search result information is displayed on the display unit 24 (B110).

[0188] After A110, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A, based on user input to send a favor (e.g., "Like!") to the displayed matching candidate user (in this example, user BB), sends favor-sending information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A120). The favor-sending information refers to the favor information sent by the user sending the favor (in this example, user AA).

[0189] In reality, the recipient of affection may sometimes be chosen from someone other than the matching candidates, but the same principle applies in this case as well.

[0190] When the control unit 11 of the server 10 receives goodwill sending information from terminal 20A via the communication interface 14, it sends goodwill receipt information to terminal 20B via the communication interface 14, indicating that it has received goodwill from user AA, based on the received goodwill sending information (S140). In this case, for example, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may store the application ID of user BB in the user information management data of user AA's account management data in association with the fact that a favor was sent, and store the application ID of user BB in the user information management data of user BB's account management data in association with the fact that a favor was sent.

[0191] When the terminal 20B receives goodwill information from the server 10 via the communication interface 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B displays the received goodwill information on the display unit 24 (B120).

[0192] Next, the control unit 21 of terminal 20B transmits the acceptance of the favor to the server 10 via the communication interface 22 (B130), based on the fact that user input has been made to accept the favor from the user who sent the favor (in this example, user AA).

[0193] When the server 10 receives acceptance information from terminal 20B via the communication interface 14, the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs matching completion processing (S150). Specifically, for example, the application ID of user BB may be stored as the matching completion application ID in the user information management data of user AA's account management data, and the application ID of user AA may be stored as the matching completion application ID in the user information management data of user BB's account management data. For convenience, users who have been successfully matched (in this example, users AA and BB) will be referred to as "matched users."

[0194] Next, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits matching success information, indicating that a match has been achieved, to terminals 20A and 20B respectively via the communication interface 14 (S160).

[0195] When the terminal 20A receives matching success information from the server 10 via the communication interface 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays the received matching success information on the display unit 24 (A140). Similarly, on terminal 20B, the matching success information is displayed on the display unit 24 (B140).

[0196] Next, under the control of the control unit 11 of the server 10, a chat process within the matching service is initiated between the matching users (between the terminals 20 of the matching users) (S170). In the chat processing within the matching service, the control unit 11 of the server 10 relays the sending and receiving of chat messages between terminal 20A and terminal 20B. The chat messages sent and received may be displayed in the chat room of the matching application on both terminal 20A and terminal 20B.

[0197] As shown in the example display screen, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, for example, in the chat processing within the matching service, send unfollowed OA introduction information (OA follow suggestion information), which includes a message suggesting that the user follow the OA if one of the matching users is following an OA of a messaging service but the other user is not. This information may be sent to the terminal 20 of the target user. Furthermore, as shown in the example display screen (Figure 1-15) described later, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, for example, in the chat processing within the matching service, if it receives information from the terminal 20 requesting a transition to an open chat in the messaging application, create an open chat room in the messaging application (a chat room for matching users to chat with each other, with anonymity guaranteed), and then transition to this open chat room to conduct the chat. Alternatively, information suggesting that the user should chat in the messaging application's open chat room may be sent to the terminal 20 of the matching user.

[0198] After the chat processing within the matching service begins, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not the dating support conditions have been met (S175). The dating support conditions may be, for example, any of the following conditions, or a combination thereof. (B1) A specified period (e.g., one week) has elapsed since the matching was completed. (B2) A date schedule is set by the matching user.

[0199] If it is determined that the conditions for dating support have been met (S175: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits dating support proposal information to terminals 20A and 20B via the communication interface 14 (S180). Dating support suggestion information can be any suggestion information to support dating, and may include, for example, at least one of the following pieces of information: (a) Date suggestion information (information suggesting going on a date) (b) Date preparation suggestion information (information suggesting date preparations)

[0200] (a) Date suggestion information may be sent, for example, when the condition in (B1) is met. Furthermore, (a) the date suggestion information may include text, images, etc., such as "Would you like to go on a date with this person?".

[0201] (b) Date preparation suggestion information may be sent, for example, when the conditions in (B2) are met. Furthermore, (b) the date preparation suggestion information may include various services that the user is expected to use for date preparation, as well as suggestions regarding the use of those services. Specifically, for example, it may include suggestions for using grooming services (suggestions for using a hair salon, skincare services, purchasing items through online fashion retailers, etc.) and suggestions for date locations (suggestions for cafes, restaurants, movie theaters, etc.).

[0202] This information may be sent, for example, as information to be displayed in a chat room of a matching application. However, this is not the only option; the information may also be sent as a message displayed on pages other than the chat room of the matching application, or as a push notification from the matching application (push notification). Alternatively, you could send different proposals to men and women.

[0203] When the terminal 20A receives dating support suggestion information from the server 10 via the communication interface 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays the received dating support suggestion information on the display unit 24 (A150). Similarly, on terminal 20B, dating support suggestion information is displayed on the display unit 24 (B150). Alternatively, the dating support suggestion information may be sent to only one of the terminals 20.

[0204] After A150, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A determines whether to terminate the process (A190). If it determines to continue the process (A190: NO), it returns to before A150 and waits for the reception of dating support suggestion information. On the other hand, if it determines to terminate the process (A190: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A terminates the chat process within the matching service and ends the process. The same process is performed on terminal 20B (B190).

[0205] After S180, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether to terminate the process (S190). If it determines to continue the process (S190: NO), it returns to S175. On the other hand, if it determines to terminate the process (S190: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 terminates the process.

[0206] As shown in the example display screen, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, for example, in S180, transmit information to allow the user to make a reservation for one of the various services mentioned above that can be reserved. In this case, for example, the control unit 11 may identify a reservation service that the matching service provider has partnered with and for which the matching user has an account, and transmit information (such as the URL of the reservation page) to the matching user's terminal 20 to transition to the reservation page of the identified reservation service. Alternatively, instead of having the user make the reservation themselves, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may perform the reservation process (reservation processing) on ​​their behalf. In this case, for example, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may perform the reservation processing using the user's account in the reservation service that has been linked to the user's account in the matching service in advance. Furthermore, the system may identify the reservation service for which the matched user has an account, perform account linking processing, and then perform the reservation processing.

[0207] Furthermore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, for example in S180, send information to the terminal 20 of the matching user to allow the user to follow up on the OA for the service in which the OA is registered among the various services mentioned above.

[0208] Furthermore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, for example, in S120, suggest matching candidate users based on values ​​related to the usage status of the messaging service by member users and an artificial intelligence model for calculating values ​​related to the compatibility between member users.

[0209] In this case, for example, a predictive model may be generated using machine learning (which may include deep learning) with values ​​(features) related to the user's usage of messaging services as explanatory variables and values ​​related to user compatibility as the target variable (training data). The combination of the target variable and explanatory variables may be as follows, for example. • Target variable: The period during which messages are continuously exchanged between the target user and a specific user (message duration). • Explanatory variable: The number of OA friends that the target user and the specific user have in common.

[0210] In the learning phase, data on the duration of messages exchanged between regular users of the messaging service, such as couples (married couples or lovers), is obtained as a training dataset. This dataset includes data on the number of friends they have registered on common open-source platforms (OA). In this case, for data collection, the data may be collected only after the couple has declared their willingness to participate and given their permission. Then, for example, using a training dataset obtained from multiple couples, a predictive model is generated to predict the message duration from the number of friends registered on common OA (Open Access) using machine learning based on regression analysis.

[0211] In the inference phase, for example, in a matching service, for each combination of member users (each pair) who are of the opposite sex and meet certain conditions (e.g., same age, same (or nearby) place of residence), the number of common OA friends registered for that combination of member users is obtained. Then, the obtained number of friends registered is used as input to the trained model to infer the message duration for that combination of member users. Then, for example, combinations of member users whose predicted message duration is longer than a certain period are designated as potential matching users. This is because member users who are predicted to have long message durations together are likely to be compatible.

[0212] Furthermore, since it's possible that users may have mutual friends who are also general users, it might be advisable to apply the same processing not only to mutual OA friends but also to mutual friends who are also general users.

[0213] Please note that the above is merely one example and is not limited to this. For example, a predictive model may be generated using explanatory variables such as the number of news articles or articles that the target user and a specific user both searched for or viewed using the messaging service, or the number of advertisements that the target user and a specific user both clicked on using the messaging service. Alternatively, a predictive model may be generated using, for example, multiple regression analysis, by using multiple different types of values ​​(features) based on usage information of the Measuring Service as explanatory variables.

[0214] Furthermore, if a date is arranged between two member users and the details of the date are decided, it may be possible to allow them to pay for the date-related expenses (for example, restaurant bills, movie tickets, etc.) in advance (hereinafter referred to as "advance payment" as appropriate). For example, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may perform payment processing using the user's account in the payment service that has been linked to the user's account in the matching service in advance. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may identify the payment service to which the user has registered an account, perform account linking processing, and then perform payment processing.

[0215] Furthermore, when using prepayment between member users, the percentage of the payment amount to be shared among member users may be set at the member user's discretion. For example, if one of the member users who has decided to go on a date (for example, a male member user) wishes to pay a predetermined percentage of the date fee in advance, the control unit 21 of that member user's (for example, a male member user's) terminal 20 may send information regarding the desired advance payment percentage (for example, information regarding the wish to pay 80% of the date fee in advance) to the server 10. The control unit 11 of the server 10, upon receiving the prepayment ratio preference information, may then send detailed information regarding the prepayment amounts for both member users to the terminals 20 of both member users based on the received prepayment ratio preference information (for example, sending information to the male member user's terminal 20 that he will be charged 80% of the date expenses, and sending information to the female member user's terminal 20 that she will be charged 20% of the date expenses).

[0216] <Specific Example of Searching for Matching Candidate Users from OA> FIG. 1-13 and FIG. 1-14 are functional diagrams showing the process in which the control unit 11 of the server 10 searches for users (matching candidate users) who are friends with a common OA based on the OA follow-up status management data of the account management data, and notifies the user of the result.

[0217] FIG. 1-13 is a functional diagram showing an example when there are matching candidate users who are friends with a common OA as a result of searching for users who are friends with a common OA.

[0218] In this example, it is assumed that the membership users of User A.A (male) and User B.B (female) are searched to see if they are friends with a common OA.

[0219] (1) The control unit 11 of the server 10 refers to the OA follow-up status data of the account management data 155A of User A.A and the OA follow-up status data of the account management data 155B of User B.B, and searches for a common OA ID from among the group of OAs excluding those with an OA attribute of "Infrastructure".

[0220] (2) When the control unit 11 of the server 10 discovers a common OA ID (OA ID "OA0056": OA of "○○ Nyan Story") as a result of (1), it notifies both membership users (User A.A and User B.B) that they are friends with a common OA, and prompts both to take actions for the establishment of a match as membership users (such as a message of "Would you like to like it?").

[0221] FIG. 1-14 is a functional diagram showing an example when there are no matching candidate users who are friends with a common OA as a result of searching for users who are friends with a common OA.

[0222] In this example, it is assumed that the membership users of User A.A (male) and User F.F (female) are searched to see if they are friends with a common OA.

[0223] (1) The control unit 11 of the server 10 refers to the OA follow-up status data of the account management data 155A of user A.A and the OA follow-up status data of the account management data 155B of user B.B, and searches for a common OA ID from among the group of OAs excluding those with an OA attribute of "infrastructure".

[0224] (2) If the control unit 11 of the server 10 cannot find a common OA ID as a result of (1), it does not execute any control on both member users (user A.A and user F.F).

[0225] In such a case, the operator of the matching service may introduce OAs that both member users are likely to be interested in, etc., and encourage them to become friends with a common OA.

[0226] Specifically, the control unit 11 of the server 10 calculates common hobbies and interests based on information obtained from the communities to which both member users belong, the linked services (for example, the browsing history of news services), etc., and based on the result, executes a process of discovering OAs that both member users are likely to be interested in, and transmits information regarding the discovered OAs to the terminals of both member users.

[0227] <Effect of the embodiment> In this embodiment, a server (for example, server 10) that provides a matching service performs a first process (for example, the matching candidate search process (S120) in FIGS. 1-11, etc.) regarding matching member users based on the follow-up status of the business accounts in the chat service of member users who are also users of a chat service (for example, a messaging service) that can follow business accounts (for example, OAs) among the member users of the matching service. By enabling the execution of the first process based on the follow-up status of the business operator account in the chat service of the member user, for example, it is possible to select and propose an appropriate member user as a matching candidate in consideration of hobbies, interests, values, etc.

[0228] Further, the first process may be executed based on the follow-up status of a specific business operator account (for example, an OA whose OA attribute is other than infrastructure) in the chat service of the member user. By enabling the execution of the first process based on the follow-up status of a specific business operator account in the chat service of the member user, for example, it is possible to select and propose a more appropriate member user as a matching candidate.

[0229] Further, the first process may include a process of proposing a member user who is a matching candidate to the first member user based on a value related to the usage status of the chat service of the first member user and an artificial intelligence model for calculating a value related to the compatibility between member users. Thereby, for example, it is possible to simply and appropriately propose a member user who is estimated to be compatible with the first member user to the first member user.

[0230] Further, when (1) the second member user follows the first business operator account and (2) the first member user does not follow the first business operator account, the server 10 may perform a process of prompting the first member user to follow the first business operator account (for example, in S170 of FIG. 1-12, a process of transmitting unfollowed OA introduction information (OA follow-up proposal information) to the terminal 20 of the target user). Thereby, for example, it is possible to prompt the first member user to follow the first business operator account that the second member user follows. Also, for example, it is possible to provide a common topic for the first member user and the second member user, and it is possible to provide the business operator with an opportunity to reach new member users.

[0231] Furthermore, when a match is made between the first member user and the second member user and predetermined conditions are met (for example, a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the match was made, and the matched user has set a date schedule) (for example, S175:YES in Figure 1-12), the server 10 may perform a second process to support the face-to-face meeting (for example, a date) between the first member user and the second member user (for example, in S180 in Figure 1-12, the process of sending date support suggestion information to the terminal 20, and the process of reserving a reservable service). This allows, for example, to support face-to-face meetings between a first member user and a second member user who have been successfully matched.

[0232] Furthermore, the second process may include, before the first member user and the second member user who have been matched meet in person, a process that proposes to at least the first member user services available to at least the first member user in relation to the meeting. This allows, for example, before a match is made between the first and second member users, the first member user can be offered services available to them in relation to the meeting, and the second member user can be made to use those services before the meeting.

[0233] Furthermore, the second process may include a process that proposes to at least the first member user the services available when the first member user and the second member user meet face-to-face. This allows, for example, the system to suggest services that can be used when a matched first member user and a second member user meet in person, and to enable the first member user to use those services during the meeting.

[0234] <Example Modification (1)> For example, a matching application could be configured to provide a user interface to an open chat service, allowing users who have met through the matching application (for example, users who have successfully matched) to chat with each other in this open chat.

[0235] An open chat is essentially a public chat room within a messaging application that anyone can join. Even if you're not friends with someone on the messaging application, you can still enjoy talking and exchanging information about shared interests and everyday topics.

[0236] Open chats have the following characteristics, as an example: • Anyone can participate: Anyone who is a user of a messaging application can participate without having to send a friend request on the messaging application. • Nicknames can be set: By allowing users to set unique user information (username, icon, etc.) for each open chat group or talk room, different from the user information used in messaging applications, user anonymity is maintained, and the service can be used safely.

[0237] Furthermore, there are different types of open chats, including "public open chats" that any user can join, and "private open chats" that have restrictions on which users can participate.

[0238] For example, it is possible to create a private open chat room where only one user and another user can communicate. Users who meet through a matching application can then move to such a private one-on-one open chat within the messaging application to continue their conversation.

[0239] Some users of matching applications may prefer to communicate through other communication services (such as messaging services) rather than communicating within the matching application itself.

[0240] On the other hand, some users of matching applications may hesitate to contact others through services other than the matching application (such as messaging services) due to concerns about their personal information being revealed.

[0241] Here, by adopting a configuration that allows users who meet through a matching application to transition to a one-on-one private open chat in a messaging application different from the matching application to continue their conversation, it becomes possible to provide a service that satisfies the individual needs of each user, even if they have different perspectives as described above.

[0242] Figure 1-15 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this embodiment. Figure 1-15 shows an example of a scenario in a matching application where user AA has been matched with another member user (user BB) who is friends with a common OA, and while they are exchanging messages (chat) within the matching application, the user AA suggests moving to an open chat in a messaging application.

[0243] Figure 1-15, on the left, shows an example of the interaction screen of the matching application displayed on terminal 20A. The screen displayed allows the user of terminal 20A (user AA) to chat with another member user (user BB) with whom a match has been made.

[0244] The chat information display area CR on this screen shows, as an example, a conversation between user AA and user BB (in this example, a conversation in which they suggest moving to an open chat in the messaging application). Additionally, in the lower right corner of the chat information display area (CR), there is an Open Chat transition button (OPBT) that launches the messaging application and allows you to move to an Open Chat room.

[0245] Here, when the open chat transition button OPBT is tapped by the user, the display changes to the screen on the right side of FIG. 1-15. This screen shows an example of a chat room screen of an open chat of a messaging application that is launched by the messaging application and displayed on the terminal 20A.

[0246] This chat room is a private open chat room provided by the messaging application for user A.A and user B.B to have a one-on-one conversation.

[0247] This modified example shows a configuration in which the server 10 performs a process for allowing the first member user and the second member user for whom matching has been established to chat in a chat room where anonymity in the chat service is guaranteed. Thereby, it is possible to provide a place for the first member user and the second member user for whom matching has been established to chat in the chat service while ensuring anonymity.

[0248] <Modified Example (2) of the Embodiment> In the above-described embodiment and modified example (1), in the matching service, an example of assisting matching with other users based on the OA (OA follow status) that the user has registered as a friend in the messaging service has been shown, but it is not limited to such an example. For example, instead of the matching service, in the messaging service, a service that assists matching with other users based on the OA (OA follow status) that the user has registered as a friend in the messaging service may be provided. Hereinafter, such a service will be appropriately referred to as a "messaging matching service".

[0249] In this messaging matching service, it is possible to match users based on their respective OA (Office Automation) following status. However, in consideration of user privacy, it is desirable for messaging services to match users who have already added each other as friends, based on their respective OA following status. This modified example explains how to match users who have already added each other as friends, based on their OA following status.

[0250] Furthermore, the "messaging matching service" in this modified example, as mentioned above, is a service that targets users who have already added each other as friends in a messaging service. It is a service that encourages users to communicate with each other by informing them that they are following the same OA (Open Access) in common. Therefore, the "matching" in the messaging matching service may be different from providing and supporting opportunities for users who have not yet met to meet in a matching service as shown in the above embodiment and modified example (1), and may be defined as providing and supporting opportunities for communication between users who have already added each other as friends (who already know each other).

[0251] <Processing> The following shows an example of the processing flow performed by each device in this modified example. Here, we show an example of the processing performed by the control unit 21 of user AA's terminal 20A, an example of the processing performed by the control unit (not shown) of the messaging server, and an example of the processing performed by the control unit 21 of user BB's terminal 20B. In this modified example, the explanation assumes that a messaging service provider operates and manages a server different from server 10, which provides messaging services (hereinafter referred to as the "messaging server") (not shown).

[0252] Here, we illustrate the process when user AA and user BB are searched for as matching candidates in the messaging service, and when user AA and user BB are matched in the messaging service. Note that the process described below is merely one example of the process for realizing the method of this disclosure, and is not limited to these. In addition, other processes may be added to the process described below, or some processes may be omitted (deleted) from the process described below.

[0253] For example, the control unit (not shown) of the messaging server performs a messaging matching user search process to find users to match in the messaging service (hereinafter referred to as "messaging matching users"). Specifically, for example, for each user who is mutually friends with another user using the messaging service, it refers to information on the latest following status of OA in the corresponding messaging application and searches for users who are following the same OA.

[0254] Here, information regarding the latest status of OA (Office Automation) in a messaging application may be, for example, a database for managing users (user accounts) of the messaging service, and may be taken from the messaging account management database stored in the storage unit of the messaging server, and include the OA follow-up status management data contained in the messaging account management data of the corresponding user (account).

[0255] The OA follow status management data may be configured in the same way as the OA follow status management data shown in Figure 1-5 above, for example, and may be data for storing information about OAs that this account has added as friends in the messaging service. The OA follow status management data may store, for example, an OA ID, an OA name, OA attributes, and other OA information in association with each other.

[0256] In this case, based on the OA attribute, for example, the follow-up status of infrastructure-related OA may be excluded. This is because the follow-up status of infrastructure-related OA often does not reflect the user's hobbies, preferences, values, etc. Conversely, the follow-up status of specific OA attributes that tend to reflect the user's hobbies, preferences, values, etc. may be excluded.

[0257] In this example, the messaging matching user search process selects users AA and BB, who have mutually added each other as friends on the messaging service, as messaging matching users.

[0258] Furthermore, in the messaging matching user search process, the control unit of the messaging server may, for example, prioritize selecting users who have both registered an OA (Office Automation) with a small number of friends (for example, an OA with a number of friends below a predetermined number) as messaging matching users. Alternatively, for example, it may prioritize selecting users who have both registered an OA related to their place of residence (for example, an OA related to stores or facilities in their place of residence) as messaging matching users.

[0259] Next, the control unit of the messaging server may transmit messaging matching search result information (for example, information associating the identification information and image information of the messaging matching user) which is information of the search results for messaging matching users obtained through the messaging matching user search process, to terminals 20A and 20B, respectively, via a communication interface (not shown). Furthermore, if no messaging matching user is selected during the messaging matching user search process, the messaging server's control unit may choose not to send messaging matching search result information, or it may choose to send a message indicating that no messaging matching user was selected as part of the search result information.

[0260] When the terminal 20A receives messaging matching search result information from the messaging server via the communication I / F 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may display the received messaging matching search result information (for example, the content of the messaging application including the message "BB looks like you're friends with the same official account! Let's chat about common topics!") on the display unit 24. Similarly, on terminal 20B, messaging matching search result information may be displayed on the display unit 24.

[0261] Furthermore, the control unit of the messaging server may, for example, in the messaging matching user search process, propose messaging matching users based on an artificial intelligence model for calculating values ​​related to the user's usage of messaging services and values ​​related to the need to provide opportunities for communication between users.

[0262] In this case, for example, a predictive model may be generated using machine learning (which may include deep learning) with values ​​(features) related to the user's usage of messaging services as explanatory variables and values ​​related to the need to provide opportunities for communication between users as the dependent variable (training data). The combination of the dependent variable and explanatory variables may be as follows, for example. • Target variable: The period during which no messages are exchanged between the target user and a specific user (message non-continuation period). • Explanatory variable: The number of mutual friends between the target user and a specific user (general users only, OA users only, or both)

[0263] In the learning phase, data from regular users of the messaging service, such as data on the period between messages (data to be provided as training data) and data on the number of friends registered in common, are obtained as the training dataset. In this case, for data collection, for example, a declaration from the regular users and permission may be obtained before the data is collected. Then, for example, using the acquired training dataset, a predictive model is generated to predict the message discontinuation period from the number of common friends, for example, by machine learning based on regression analysis.

[0264] In the inference phase, for example, in a messaging service, the number of common friends registered for each combination of users (each pair of users) that meets a predetermined condition (e.g., belonging to the same group) is obtained. Then, the obtained number of friends registered is used as input to the trained model to infer the message non-continuation period for that combination of member users. For example, a combination of users whose inferred message gap period is longer than a certain period (e.g., 3 months or more) is designated as a messaging matched user. This is because users with a predicted long message gap period are likely to have a high need for communication prompts.

[0265] Please note that the above is merely one example and is not limited to this. For example, if the target user and a specific user follow each other on other social networking services related to the messaging service, the explanatory variables could be the number of actions taken on each other's posts on those social networking services over a given period (e.g., actions such as liking each other's posts or sharing them with other users over the past six months) and other explanatory variables could be used to generate a predictive model.

[0266] Furthermore, the control unit of the messaging server may, for example, in messaging processing to enable users to message (chat) each other within the messaging service, send unfollowed OA introduction information (OA follow suggestion information), which includes a message suggesting that the user follow an OA in a messaging service that one of the messaging matching users is following but the other user is not, to the terminal 20 of the target user.

[0267] This configuration allows users who are already friends on the messaging service to communicate not only through their usual conversations and communication on the messaging service, but also through topics related to their shared OA (Office Automation) interests. In particular, for users who are already friends on the messaging service but have become distant from each other, this provides an opportunity for them to communicate again, as they had no particular opportunity or motivation to communicate before. This makes it a highly valuable service for such users.

[0268] Furthermore, any other details regarding matching in the matching service of the above embodiment may be similarly applied to matching in the messaging service of this modified example.

[0269] <Other> In the above embodiments, at least some of the processing that the server 10 is supposed to perform may be performed by the terminal 20. Conversely, in the above embodiments, at least some of the processing that the terminal 20 is supposed to perform may be performed by the server 10.

[0270] Furthermore, the processing described in the above embodiments may be implemented by a single server, or the processing described in the above embodiments may be implemented by a server system consisting of multiple servers, with each server handling a portion of the processing.

[0271] For example, a system consisting of one or more servers may be defined as a server system, and the server of the present invention may be considered a server system.

[0272] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the server providing the matching service (matching service server) and the server providing the chat service (chat service server) may be configured as separate servers or as a single server.

[0273] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the server for distributing various applications (the server from which terminal 20 downloads applications) may be configured as a different server from the server that provides the corresponding services (applications). In other words, the server for distributing applications and the server that performs the application management processing described in the above embodiments may be configured as physically separate servers, or they may be configured as a single server.

[0274] Furthermore, the term "application" may include not only programs for various applications, but also programs that provide the functionality of other services as a function of the underlying application (for example, a program that provides the functionality of an advertising delivery service as a function of a messaging application, or vice versa), and programs for updating the underlying application. It may also include data used by application programs (which may include data for application updates, etc.).

[0275] Furthermore, while the above embodiments describe, for example, a method of realizing the present invention using a client-server system, the invention is not limited to this. As mentioned above, it may also be realized by a distributed system or other system in which the functions of a server or server system are provided to the terminal 20. For example, the processing described in the flowchart described in the above embodiments as being performed by a server or server system may be performed by the terminal.

[0276] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the contents described in each of the above embodiments, each of the modifications, other embodiments, and so on can be combined and applied accordingly. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0277] 1. Communication System 10 servers 20 devices 30 Networks

Claims

1. A program to be executed on a server that provides a matching service, A program that causes the server to execute a first process relating to matching member users with each other, based on the status of member users who are members of the matching service and are users of the chat service that can follow business accounts, in the chat service.

2. The program according to claim 1, The first process is performed based on the member user's following status of a specific business account in the chat service. program.

3. The program according to claim 1, The first process includes proposing member users who are potential matching candidates to the first member user, based on values ​​related to the first member user's usage of the chat service and an artificial intelligence model for calculating values ​​related to the compatibility between member users. program.

4. The program according to claim 1, (1) The second member user is following the first business account, (2) If the first member user does not follow the first business account, A program that causes the server to execute a process prompting the first member user to follow the first business account.

5. The program according to claim 1, A program that causes the server to execute a process to enable the first member user and the second member user, who have been matched, to chat in a chat room in the chat service where anonymity is guaranteed.

6. The program according to claim 1, A program that causes the server to execute a second process to support a face-to-face meeting between a first member user and a second member user when a match is made between the first member user and a second member user and predetermined conditions are met.

7. L according to claim 6, The second process includes, before the first member user and the second member user meet face-to-face, a process of proposing to at least the first member user services available to at least the first member user in relation to the meeting, program.

8. L according to claim 6, The second process includes a process of proposing to at least the first member user services that are available when the first member user and the second member user meet face-to-face, program.

9. A method for processing information on a server that provides a matching service, An information processing method that performs a first process relating to matching member users with each other, based on the status of member users who are members of the matching service and are users of the chat service that can follow business accounts, in the chat service.

10. A server that provides matching services, A server comprising a control unit that performs a first process relating to matching member users with each other based on the status of member users who are members of the matching service and are users of the chat service that can follow business accounts, in the chat service.

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