MATCHING SYSTEM, MATCHING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM

Abstract

To provide a matching system, a matching method, and a computer program capable of matching a user with other suitable users and making contact with them. [Solution] In a matching system in which a matching device, a service-using user terminal, and a service-providing user terminal are communicatively connected via a network, the matching device comprises a reception unit that receives user information including gender from two or more users including a first user, a matching unit that performs a matching process based on the user information of the first user and the other users and identifies other users suitable for the first user, and a display unit that displays a list of other users suitable for the first user based on the matching results in the matching unit, the matching unit restricts the first user and the other users to not be one male-female based on the gender of the first user and the other users, and the reception unit accepts the designation of a user to contact selected from the list of other users.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a matching system, a matching method, and a computer program. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, systems have been used to match men and women together, or to match users together in shared taxi rides, etc., to create suitable pairs.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a ride-sharing management device that manages a driving plan for sharing a ride with other users and using the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-149536 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] On the other hand, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is a system for managing a trip plan for users to share a ride, taking into account the destination, and does not disclose a system for matching users with users who are suitable for them and making contact with them.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel technology that can match a user with other suitable users and make contact with them. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] [1] A matching system, comprising: A reception unit that receives user information including gender from two or more users including a first user; A matching unit that performs a matching process based on user information of the first user and other users and identifies other users suitable for the first user; a display unit that displays a list of other users suitable for the first user based on a matching result by the matching unit; Equipped with The matching process is limited to not being one male to one female based on the gender of the first user and the other users; the accepting unit accepts designation of a user to be contacted, selected from the list of other users; Matching system. [2] The reception unit further receives accompanying person information including the number and gender of accompanying persons, The matching unit further performs matching based on the accompanying person information, and executes, as the matching process, a process of identifying other users suitable for the first user based on the number and gender of a group including the first user, the other users, and the accompanying persons. [1] A matching system as described above. [3] The matching process includes, when the number of people included in the group is three or more, a process of identifying other users suitable for the first user such that the number of women included in the group is equal to or greater than the number of men. [2] A matching system as described above. [4] The display unit displays a list of other users suitable for the first user, including the gender of the user and the accompanying person, based on the matching result. [2] A matching system as described above. [5] Users include service users and service provider users. The first user is a service user, The service usage information of the service user includes visiting location information, The service provision information of the service providing user includes available location information; The matching unit further performs, as the matching process, a process of identifying a service providing user who can provide a service at a location visited by the service using user, based on the service usage information and the service provision information. A matching system according to any one of [1] to [4]. [6] Users include service users and service provider users. The first user is a service user, The service usage information of the service user includes usage date and time information, The service provision information of the service providing user includes available date and time information, The matching unit further performs, as the matching process, a process of identifying a service providing user who is available for a date and time used by the service using user based on the service usage information and the service provision information. A matching system according to any one of [1] to [5]. [7] A computer-implemented matching method, comprising: a receiving step of receiving user information including gender from two or more users including the first user; A matching process for performing a matching process based on user information of the first user and other users to identify other users suitable for the first user; a display step of displaying a list of other users suitable for the first user based on a matching result in the matching unit; a receiving step of receiving a designation of a user to be contacted, selected from the list of other users; Equipped with The matching process is limited to not being one male to one female based on the gender of the first user and the other users. Matching method. A computer program that causes the computer to execute the matching method described in [7].

[0008] The invention of [1] makes it possible to match a user with other users suitable for that user and to contact those users.

[0009] [2] The invention makes it possible to perform matching taking into account the user's companions.

[0010] [3] The invention of the present invention takes into account the number of people and gender in a group, making it possible to provide matching that is safe for women as well.

[0011] [4] The invention relates to displaying the user's gender and accompanying persons, and allowing the user to select a user to contact while checking the accompanying persons.

[0012] [5] According to the invention, a user who uses a service is matched with a user who can provide the service in the location he or she visits, and can easily receive the service.

[0013] [6] According to the invention, a user who wishes to use a service is matched with a user who can provide the service at the date and time that the user wishes to use the service, and can easily receive the service. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, a novel technique can be provided that can match a user with other suitable users and make contact with them. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] Hardware configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image of matching according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] A flowchart showing the process flow of an embodiment. [Diagram 5] Example of a screen display according to an embodiment [Figure 6] Example of a screen display according to an embodiment DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which there is shown a preferred embodiment, but which may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0017] For example, in this embodiment, the configuration, operation, etc. of the matching system will be described, but the same effects can be achieved by an executed method, device, computer program, etc. The program may be provided as a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, or may be provided so as to be downloadable from an external server.

[0018] In this embodiment, a matching system is described in particular for use when a service user such as a traveler searches for a local person (service providing user) with whom he or she can share a meal or tea at a travel destination, and has a meal or tea with the matched person at the local location. In this embodiment, the service user meets the service providing user who lives near the matched travel destination at the local location during the trip, and shares a meal or tea with the service providing user. After meeting the service user and sharing a meal or tea with the service providing user, the service providing user receives payment from the service using user.

[0019] In providing or using such a service, it is necessary to meet other users who have never met before. However, for users who have a partner, it is not desirable to be one-on-one with a member of the opposite sex. Also, for female users, a large number of male users who are meeting for the first time may be unsafe and is not desirable. In response to such a situation, the present embodiment provides a matching system that performs matching that allows users to feel safe even when meeting other users who have never met before by limiting one-on-one matching between men and women and by performing matching that takes into account the gender of the user and accompanying persons. In addition, in this embodiment, since the user shares a meal or tea with the matched other user, the matching system may be configured to search for other users with the same hobbies and tastes, such as other users who want to eat the same food or go to the same place, based on the food they want to eat or the place they want to go registered by the user.

[0020] A service-using user is a user of the system who receives services such as guidance and local introductions, and in this embodiment, is a traveler. A service-providing user is a user of the system who provides services such as guidance and local introductions, and in this embodiment, is an attendant. Note that the service provided by the service-providing user to the service-using user is not limited to guidance at a travel destination as in this embodiment, but is preferably a service that creates an actual meeting situation as in this embodiment.

[0021] Further, an accompanying person is a person who accompanies a service using user or a service providing user. An accompanying person is a person who has some kind of relationship with a user, such as a partner, friend, or family member of a service using user or a service providing user, and accompanies the user to use or provide a service. In this embodiment, an accompanying person is not registered as a user of the matching system, but the accompanying person may be registered as a user, and user information regarding the accompanying person may be used in the matching process described later.

[0022] In this embodiment, the matching system performs matching between service-using users and service-providing users for the provision of services, but the matching-related processing described below may also be performed for other purposes, such as simply matching to introduce users to each other.

[0023] <System configuration> Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, a matching system 0 includes a matching device 1, a service-using user terminal 2, and a service-providing user terminal 3, which are communicatively connected via a network 4. Note that there may be one or more service-using user terminals 2 and service-using user terminals 3.

[0024] As the matching device 1, one or more server devices such as a general-purpose server or a personal computer can be used.

[0025] The service using user terminal 2 and the service providing user terminal 3 can be terminal devices 20 such as personal computers, smartphones, tablet terminals, etc. The service using user terminal 2 and the service providing user terminal 3 connect to the matching device 1 by executing a matching device utilization program, and execute the matching-related processing described below. The matching device utilization program may be a browser application pre-installed or downloaded in advance in the terminal device 20, or a client application downloaded from a program providing device (not shown).

[0026] The network 4 is an IP (Internet Protocol) network, but there are no limitations on the type of communication protocol, the type of network, etc.

[0027] <Hardware configuration> FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the matching device 1 and the terminal device 20 (the service utilizing user terminal 2 and the service providing user terminal 3).

[0028] Fig. 2(a) is a hardware configuration diagram of the matching device 1. As shown in Fig. 2(a), the matching device 1 includes a processing unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a communication unit 103, which are used to perform the functions of each unit and each process.

[0029] The processing unit 101 has a processor such as a CPU capable of executing an instruction set, and executes an OS, a matching program, and the like. The storage unit 102 includes a volatile memory such as a RAM capable of storing an instruction set, and a non-volatile recording medium such as an HDD or SSD capable of recording an OS, a matching program, and the like. The communication unit 103 has an interface for connecting to the network 4, and controls communications with the network 4 to input and output information.

[0030] Fig. 2(b) is a hardware configuration diagram of the terminal device 20 (service-using user terminal 2, service-providing user terminal 3). As shown in Fig. 2(b), the terminal device 20 has a processing unit 201, a storage unit 202, a communication unit 203, an input unit 204, and an output unit 205, which are used to perform the functions of each unit and each process.

[0031] The processing unit 201 has a processor such as a CPU capable of executing an instruction set, and executes programs such as an OS and a matching device utilization program. The memory unit 202 has a volatile memory such as a RAM capable of storing an instruction set, an OS, and a non-volatile recording medium such as an HDD or SSD capable of recording an application program (such as a matching device utilization program) that can utilize multiple services including a matching service. The communication unit 203 has an interface for connecting to the network 4, and controls communications with the network 4 to input and output information. The input unit 204 has an input device such as an operation input device capable of input processing, such as a touch panel or a keyboard. The output unit 205 has an output device such as a display device capable of performing display processing such as a display.

[0032] <Data structure in Matching System 0> An example of the data configuration used in the matching system 0 in this embodiment will be described below. In this embodiment, various data described later are stored in the storage unit 102 of the matching device 1, but may be stored in another terminal device 20 or in another server device (not shown).

[0033] The user information is information about users of the system, including service users and service providing users, and is used in the matching process described later. In this embodiment, the user information includes user identification information (user ID), user name, gender, age, contact information (email address, telephone number, etc.), address (city of residence), languages ​​fluently spoken, languages ​​being studied, user image (photo of the user's face), transfer destination information, and payment method information. In this embodiment, the user information of the service using user and the service providing user includes information related to similar items, but may include information related to different items depending on the type of user, for example, the user information of the service providing user includes transfer destination information such as account information, while the user information of the service using user includes payment method information such as credit card information. In this embodiment, the user information is registered in advance by user registration, but may be registered at the time of matching, application for service use, etc. Also, part of the user information may be registered at different times, such as part of the user information being registered at the time of user registration and the remaining part being registered at the time of application for the service.

[0034] The companion information is information about companions who accompany users of the system, including service using users and service providing users, when a service is provided. In this embodiment, the companion information includes the number and gender of companions. The companion information may also include the relationship between each companion and the user. The companion information is registered in association with the user information of the accompanied user. Note that, in this embodiment, a service using user can be accompanied by three companions and a service providing user can be accompanied by one companion, but the number of companions that can accompany a user is not limited to this number.

[0035] The service usage information is information related to the service usage of the service user, and is used in the matching process described below. In this embodiment, the service usage information includes visited location information related to the location where the service user visits and wishes to receive the service, and usage date and time information related to the date and time at which the service user wishes to receive the service. The visited location information is information related to the location where the service user visits and wishes to receive the service, and in this embodiment, includes the city name. The visited location information may be position information on a map, an address, an area name, etc. The usage date and time information is information related to the date and time at which the service user wishes to use the service. In this embodiment, the usage date and time information includes only the date, but may also include the time.

[0036] The service provision information is information about the service provision of the service provider, and is used in the matching process described later. In this embodiment, the service provision information includes available location information about a location where the service provider can provide the service, available date and time information about the date and time when the service can be provided, and a service usage fee. The available location information is information about a location where the service providing user can provide the service, and includes a city name in this embodiment. The available location information may be position information on a map, an address, an area name, or the like. The available date and time is information about a date and time when the service providing user can provide the service. In this embodiment, the available date and time information includes only a date, but may also include a time. The service usage fee is a fee required for the service provided by the service providing user, and in this embodiment, it is an amount registered by the service providing user plus a commission, but may be an amount set by the system administrator.

[0037] In this embodiment, the information used for matching, including the above-mentioned user information, accompanying person information, service usage information, and service provision information, are managed in association with each other via identification information such as a user ID. Note that in this embodiment, for a service using user, user information, accompanying person information, and service usage information are managed in association with each other, and for a service using user, user information, accompanying person information, and service provision information are managed in association with each other. In this embodiment, the matching process described below is performed using information about each user that is managed in association with each other.

[0038] Furthermore, the storage unit 102 may store condition information related to conditions desired for matching by each user including the service using user and the service providing user, and this condition information may be used for the matching process. At this time, the condition information is managed in association with the user information using identification information such as a user ID, and is used for matching as information on the target user.

[0039] <Functional configuration> FIG. 1 further shows the functional configuration of the matching system 0. As shown in FIG. 1, the matching device 1 includes a reception unit 11, a matching unit 12, a display unit 13, and a payment processing unit 14. This is a specific implementation of information processing by software (a matching program stored transiently or non-transiently in the storage unit 102) using hardware (such as the processing unit 101). Furthermore, the terminal device 20 (the service utilizing user terminal 2, the service providing user terminal 3) may include a part or all of the functional configuration described below and execute a part or all of the processing described below. In this case, the terminal device 20 stores a part or all of the matching program in the storage unit 202 and executes it in the processing unit 201.

[0040] <Reception Section 11> The reception unit 11 performs processing to receive various data from the terminal device 20 including the service using user terminal 2 and the service providing user terminal 3. In this embodiment, the reception unit 11 receives user information, accompanying person information, and service usage information of the service using user from the service using user terminal 2, and stores them in the memory unit 102. In this embodiment, the reception unit 11 also receives user information, accompanying person information, and service provision information of the service provider from the service providing user terminal 3, and stores them in the memory unit 102. The reception unit 11 may store the information received from the terminal device 20 in the memory unit 102, or may pass the acquired data to other functional configurations for execution of processing such as matching processing, which will be described later.

[0041] The reception unit 11 also performs a process of receiving an input operation by the user performed via the screen display. In this embodiment, the reception unit 11 receives, from the service using user terminal 2, a designation of a user (service providing user) to be contacted in order to receive the provision of a service.

[0042] <Matching Section 12> The matching unit 12 performs matching processing based on various information received from the user, including user information, accompanying person information, service usage information, and service provision information, and identifies other users (service providing users in this embodiment) suitable for the first user (the target service using user in this embodiment). Note that, in this embodiment, the matching processing is performed by combining multiple conditions, and processing for identifying suitable other users is performed, but the matching processing may be performed using only one condition, such as gender.

[0043] In this embodiment, the matching unit 12 performs a matching process to identify one or more other users suitable for the target user based on the gender of the user and the accompanying person. In order to perform matching that is safe for the user, when the service user is female and has no accompanying person, the matching process identifies other users suitable for the service user so that the service user and the service providing user are not one-to-one opposite genders (male and female), such as when a male service providing user without an accompanying person is determined as an unsuitable user for the service user. With such a configuration, in this embodiment, even people who have a partner or do not want to match with the opposite gender can use the service with peace of mind. In addition, a user (certified user) who is certified as a safe user by the service provider may be determined as a user suitable for users of any gender, as an exception to this gender restriction.

[0044] In addition to the user information, the matching unit 12 performs matching based on the accompanying person information, taking into consideration the gender and the number of people of each gender in a group consisting of a user (service user, service providing user) and his / her accompanying person. The group consisting of a user and his / her accompanying person here means a group of people who are expected to gather when the target users meet, including both users to be matched and their accompanying people, and in this embodiment, it is a group including a service using user, a service providing user, an accompanying person of the service using user, and an accompanying person of the service providing user. In addition, in the description of matching described later, when the term "group" is used, it refers to a group consisting of this user and his / her accompanying person. In addition, in order to perform matching that is safe for women, in this embodiment, when the number of people in a group consisting of a user and his / her accompanying person is three or more (when the users are not users without accompanying people), the matching unit 12 performs matching such that the number of women included in this group is equal to or greater than the number of men. In order to perform a reliable matching even when one user and a companion are of the same gender and the gender of the other user is biased (particularly when the one user and the companions are all female), in this embodiment, if there is only one user or if the user and the companions are of the same gender, a matching process is performed so that the number of women is equal to or greater than the number of men, or the gender of the users and the companions included in the group is the same. Also, in this embodiment, when a user has a companion of the opposite gender (for example, a female user and a male companion), the user is configured to be matched with another user (for example, a male user and a male companion) in which the number of men included in the group of the user and the companion is greater than the number of women, but even when a user has a companion of the opposite gender, matching may be performed taking into account the number of people of each gender in the group of the user and the companion.

[0045] Hereinafter, the matching using the gender of the user and the accompanying person will be described with reference to FIG. 3. Note that user A is a female user without a companion, and the matching process for identifying a user suitable for user A will be described. User B is a male user without a companion, and user C is a male user with a male companion (companion C1). User D is a female user with a female companion (companion D1), and user E is a female user with a male companion (companion E1). At this time, since user A and user B are of the opposite sex, user B is determined as a user not suitable for user A. Furthermore, since the group of user A and user C and their companions includes user A (female), user C (male), and companion C1 (male), and the number of men included in the group is greater than the number of women, user C is determined as a user not suitable for user A. Since the group of user A, user D, and their companions is a group of only women, user D is identified as a user suitable for user A. Since the group of user A, user C, and their accompanying persons includes user A (female), user E (female), and accompanying person E1 (male), and the number of women in the group is greater than or equal to the number of men, user E is determined to be a user suitable for user A. Therefore, in the matching process, the matching unit 12 identifies user D and user E, whose groups of users and accompanying persons are only the same sex or the number of women is greater than or equal to the number of men, as users suitable for user A.

[0046] The matching unit 12 further performs a matching process using the service usage information and the service provision information. In this embodiment, the matching unit 12 performs a matching process of identifying a service providing user who can respond to a location visited by the service using user, based on visited location information included in the service usage information and available location information included in the service provision information.

[0047] In addition, in this embodiment, the matching unit 12 identifies a service providing user who can provide a service when the service user wants to use the service, based on the usage date and time information included in the service usage information and the available date and time information included in the service provision information.

[0048] In this embodiment, the matching process involves identifying other users who are suitable for the target user based on the number and gender of people in the user and accompanying persons group, the location of service use, and the date and time of service use, as all of these factors.However, the matching process may also involve a process of identifying suitable users using some of the information described above.

[0049] <Display section 13> The display unit 13 performs processing to display various screens based on the matching result and various necessary data including data stored in the storage unit 102. In this embodiment, the display unit 13 displays a list of other users suitable (matched) for the target user based on the matching result in the matching unit 12. The display unit 13 also displays various screens such as a user information input screen for receiving user information.

[0050] <Payment Processing Unit 14> The payment processing unit 14 performs processing related to the payment of the service usage fee paid by the service user to the service providing user. The payment processing unit 14 performs a payment processing when the service using user pays the service usage fee based on the payment method information included in the user information of the service using user. In this embodiment, this payment processing is processing related to credit card payment, but it may be processing related to point payment or other payment methods. In addition, in this embodiment, based on the service usage amount included in the service provision information, the payment processing unit 14 performs a transfer processing related to the payment of the service usage fee paid from the service using user to the service using user. In this embodiment, the payment processing unit 14 performs a process for outputting information necessary for transfer such as transfer destination information and transfer amount, and for assisting the service manager in the transfer procedure as the transfer processing, but may also perform a process related to credit card payment or depositing a fee into an account as in the payment processing. At this time, the payment processing unit 14 may perform a process of transferring a predetermined amount to the account of the service providing user based on the transfer destination information included in the user information of the service providing user, or may perform a process of granting points corresponding to the predetermined amount to the service providing user as the transfer processing.

[0051] <Processing flow> The process flow relating to matching and a service application by a service user will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0052] In this embodiment, the display unit 13 displays an input screen (such as a user information input screen) on the terminal device 20 to receive input of information to be used in the matching process, including user information. The reception unit 11 receives the user information, accompanying person information, and service provision information of the service providing user from the service providing user terminal 3, and stores them in the storage unit 102 (S101). When the reception unit 11 receives the user information, accompanying person information, and service usage information of the service using user from the service using user terminal 2 (S102), the matching unit 12 performs a matching process to identify other users (service providing users) suitable for the target user (service using user) based on the user information, accompanying person information, and service provision information of the service providing user stored in the storage unit 102, and the user information, accompanying person information, and service usage information of the received service using user (S103).

[0053] The display unit 13 displays a service providing user list, which is a list of other users (service providing users) suitable for the target user, on the service using user terminal 2 based on the matching result in the matching unit 12 (S104). At this time, the display unit 13 further displays user information such as user names and images of suitable users (service providing users) identified in the matching process in the service providing user list based on the user information of the other users (service providing users). The reception unit 11 receives, from the service using user terminal 2, a designation of a service providing user to be contacted, selected from the service providing users displayed in the service providing user list (S105).

[0054] <Screen display example> Examples of screen displays displayed by the display unit 13 during matching and service application will be described below with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Note that, in this embodiment, the screens shown in Figures 5 and 6 are displayed on the service utilizing user terminal 2, but may also be displayed on the service providing user terminal 3. The screen displays shown in Figures 5 and 6 are merely examples, and the screens may be displayed in formats other than those shown in the figures.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen display of an input reception screen W1 for a service user to receive various information used in a matching process including user information, accompanying person information, and service usage information. The input reception screen W1 shown in FIG. 5 includes input buttons for the address, number of users and gender, and city to visit, and a confirm button. For example, by pressing a rectangular input button indicating "Please set" for the city of residence, the screen transitions to an input screen for inputting the city of residence, and by pressing a rectangular input button for each item, the screen transitions to an input screen for inputting information related to each item. Note that by pressing an input button, an input field for inputting information related to the target item may be displayed. In this embodiment, the input button is configured to be able to transition to an input screen for inputting information related to any item included in the user information, accompanying person information, and service usage information. After information is input into each item, when the confirm button is pressed, a matching process is performed in the matching unit 12, and the display unit 13 displays the list display screen W2 shown in FIG. 6.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows an example of a list display screen W2 for displaying a list of service providing users (attendants) based on a matching result. The display unit 13 displays the list display screen W2 as shown in FIG. 6 based on the matching result, user information, accompanying person information, service use information, and service provision information. The list display screen W2 is a screen for displaying a list of service providing users, and includes a condition display section W21 and a service providing user list W22. The condition display section W21 is a screen display for displaying conditions used for matching. The condition display section W21 shown in FIG. 6 displays the number of service using users and accompanying persons and the cities to be visited as conditions used for matching. In addition, in this embodiment, the condition display section W21 further displays the city where the service using user lives based on the user information. The service providing user list W22 is a list of service providing users suitable for the service using user displayed based on the matching result, and includes one or more user information display sections W221 for displaying user information of each of the identified service providing users. The user information display unit W221 is a screen display for displaying user information and accompanying person information of each user (service providing user), and displays a round user image, a user name, and the number and gender of the user and accompanying person. In this embodiment, the number and gender of the user and accompanying person are indicated by the number and color of the icon displayed to the right of the user name, but the number and gender of the user and accompanying person may be indicated by other indications. In this embodiment, a user to be contacted is selected by pressing the user information display unit W221 included in the service providing user list W22. In addition, the screen display shown in FIG. 6 is merely an example, and the screen may be displayed in a form different from the example shown in the figure, such as a round user image being displayed as a rectangle.

[0057] In addition, the list display screen shown in FIG. 6 further displays the number of service providing users identified as suitable users for the target service user by the matching process. When a rectangular sort button including an arrow is pressed, the screen transitions to a sort setting screen for inputting settings for sorting, and when a rectangular search button including a magnifying glass is pressed, the screen transitions to a condition input screen for adding further conditions and performing matching. In this embodiment, the condition input screen accepts inputs of the date and time of use, the service usage fee, the gender, the number of people, the age, and the language spoken, and the matching process can be performed again by adding the accepted conditions. In addition, the matching unit 12 may execute a process of specifying a service providing user that is selected by the service user and meets the added conditions from other users (service providing users) suitable for the target service user identified by the matching process. At this time, the display unit 13 displays a list of other users (service providing users) that meet the further added conditions on a screen display similar to that shown in FIG. 6.

[0058] In this embodiment, when a circular user image in the user information display unit W221 is pressed, a service providing user detail screen is displayed, which allows the user to contact the designated service providing user and apply for the provision of a service. The service providing user detail screen displays user information including the user name, country and city of residence (address), gender, age group, and languages ​​spoken, companion information including the companion's gender, and service provision information including the service usage fee. The service providing user detail screen also includes an input field that can accept input of application information including the language used in communication, available meeting date and time, and available meeting area, and accepts an application for service use from a service using user. The reception unit 11 accepts the application information received from the service using user terminal 2, and stores the user information of the service using user who applied and the user information of the service providing user to which the application was applied in the storage unit 102 in association with each other.

[0059] The matching device 1 may further include a notification unit that transmits a service application notification, which is a notification for notifying the service provider user that an application for a service has been made, to the service providing user terminal 3 based on application information received from the service utilizing user. At this time, the service application notification may include user information of the service utilizing user who has applied, in addition to the application information.

[0060] In this embodiment, messages are exchanged between the service user who applied for the service and the service providing user who has been applied for. In this embodiment, the matching device 1 further includes a message management unit, which manages messages between the service user and the service providing user. The message management unit stores message information on various messages received from the terminal device 20 of users including the service user and the service providing user in the storage unit 102. At this time, the message information is managed in association with user information of the destination and the source. In addition, in order to exchange messages between the user who applied for the use of the service and the user who has been applied for, the message management unit identifies the source and / or destination of the message based on the user information associated with the application information. The display unit 13 displays a message screen that displays a message on the terminal device 20 based on the message information. In addition, the message management unit may permit message exchange between the service user and the service providing user only for a predetermined period, such as a period from application for the service based on the available meeting date and time included in the application information to completion of use of the service, and may not allow exchange during other periods. The date and time of completion of service usage may be either the date and time input by the service using user or the service providing user, or the time when an application for completion of service usage is made by both users.

[0061] In addition, when the service user applies for the service, the payment processing unit 14 performs processing related to the payment of the service usage fee. In this embodiment, the settlement processing related to the payment from the service user is performed when the application is completed, and the transfer processing to the service providing user is performed when the use of the service is completed. At this time, when the reception unit 11 receives the application information and the payment method information, the payment processing unit 14 performs the settlement processing related to the payment of the usage fee from the service user based on the received payment method information. In this embodiment, when the completion of the use of the service is determined, the payment processing unit 14 executes a process to assist the system administrator in the transfer operation as a transfer process, such as outputting information necessary for the transfer, such as displaying a list of transfer destination information and the amount to be paid to the service providing user. In addition, when the reception unit 11 receives an application for the completion of the service use from both the service using user terminal 2 of the service using user who used the service and the service providing user terminal 3 of the service providing user who provided the service after the completion of the service use, the payment processing unit 14 may perform the transfer process based on the transfer destination information of the service providing user. Completion of the service use may be determined based only on an application from the service provider, or may be determined when a specific period (e.g., 3 days) has passed since the meeting date without any complaint from the service user. Note that the reception unit 11 may receive an evaluation of the service from the service user, and the payment processing unit 14 may change the amount to be transferred to the service providing user in the transfer process based on this evaluation.

[0062] In addition, in the menu column at the bottom of the screen in Figures 5 and 6, when the Search button, which is a magnifying glass icon, is pressed, the input reception screen W1 is displayed, when the Message button, which is a speech bubble icon, is pressed, the message screen is displayed, when the My Page button, which is a human icon, is pressed, the My Page screen is displayed, and when the Settings button, which is a gear icon, is pressed, the settings screen is displayed.

[0063] The message screen displays message information. The message screen is configured to allow a user to specify a user among users currently interacting with the service, such as a service providing user who has applied to use the service, and to input or display a message with the specified user. The message screen may also display a list of users interacting with the user based on the message information and associated user information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 0 Matching System 1 Matching device 11 Reception 12 Matching section 13 Display section 14 Payment Processing Unit 2. Service User Terminal 3 Service providing user terminal

Claims

1. A matching system comprising: A reception unit that receives user information including gender from two or more users including a first user and companion information including the number and gender of companions for each user; A matching unit that performs a matching process based on user information of the first user and other users and the accompanying person information for each user, and identifies other users suitable for the first user; a display unit that displays a list of other users suitable for the first user based on a matching result by the matching unit; Equipped with The matching unit executes, as the matching process, a process of identifying other users suitable for the first user based on the number and gender of a group including the first user, the other users, and a companion of the first user and a companion of the other users; The matching process is limited based on the gender of the first user and the other users so as not to be one male and one female; the accepting unit accepts designation of a user to be contacted, selected from the list of other users; Matching system.

2. The list of users displays the accompanying person information including gender. The matching system according to claim 1 .

3. the matching process includes, when the number of people included in the group is three or more, a process of identifying other users suitable for the first user such that the number of women included in the group is equal to or greater than the number of men; The matching system according to claim 1 .

4. The display unit displays a list of other users suitable for the first user, including the gender of the user and the accompanying person, based on the matching result. The matching system according to claim 1 .

5. The users include service users and service providing users. The first user is a service user, The service usage information of the service user includes visiting location information, The service provision information of the service providing user includes available location information; The matching unit further performs, as the matching process, a process of identifying a service providing user who can provide a service at a location visited by the service using user, based on the service usage information and the service provision information. The matching system according to claim 1 .

6. The users include service users and service providing users. The first user is a service user, The service usage information of the service user includes usage date and time information, The service provision information of the service providing user includes available date and time information, The matching unit further performs, as the matching process, a process of identifying a service providing user who is available for a date and time used by the service using user based on the service usage information and the service provision information. The matching system according to claim 1 .

7. 1. A computer implemented matching method comprising: A receiving step of receiving user information including gender and companion information including the number and gender of companions for each user from two or more users including the first user; a matching process for performing a matching process based on user information of the first user and other users and the accompanying person information for each user, and identifying other users suitable for the first user; a display step of displaying a list of other users suitable for the first user based on a matching result in the matching step; Equipped with In the matching step, a process of identifying other users suitable for the first user is executed based on the number and sex of a group including the first user, the other users, and the first user's companions and the other users' companions, as the matching process; The matching process is limited based on the gender of the first user and the other users so as not to be one male and one female; The receiving step receives a designation of a user to be contacted, selected from the list of other users. Matching method.

8. A computer program causing the computer to execute the matching method according to claim 7.

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