Information provision system, information provision program, and information provision method

Abstract

To provide an information providing system which can provide information on a provider properly and widely without requiring the provider of a commodity or a service to register the information on a database.SOLUTION: An information providing system includes a consumer information database 2 which stores consumer information to be stored in association with a lifeline supply and demand contract; and an information providing server 4 from which the consumer information can be acquired freely. When a consumer U accesses, as a search user, the information providing server 4 via a consumer terminal 3 and inputs a search word, the information providing server 4 selects consumer information of the search user and a consumer U, as a searched user, which corresponds to the search word, from the consumer information database 2, and outputs information on the searched user on the consumer terminal 3 of the search user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing program, and an information providing method for providing information about a specific region. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, when a corporation such as a company or a local government, or an individual, is trying to find a provider of a product or service that he or she needs, it is common to search using a general-purpose search engine. However, when searching using a general-purpose search engine, the results are generally searched and output according to a predetermined search ranking, regardless of the location of the user, such as the corporation or individual, who is looking for information. For this reason, for example, when a user is trying to find a provider in the vicinity of his or her location, he or she may not be able to find a suitable provider, or may have to spend a lot of time inputting information to search.

[0003] Meanwhile, a system is known that can effectively provide users with information related to a specific region during a specific period of time (for example, see Patent Document 1). This system includes a region information database that stores information about a specific region in association with a validity period, and when a user transmits search conditions that specify a region and a period of time, it extracts region information that matches the search conditions from the region information database. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-296334 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in conventional general-purpose search engines and the system described in Patent Document 1, only providers registered in a database for the purpose of providing search services are searched. However, since registering in a database requires time and money, there is a risk that many providers will not be registered widely. For example, small and medium-sized enterprises and individual business operators in rural areas (suburbs) may not be registered in the database, and may not be hit in a search, resulting in lost business opportunities. For this reason, even if a user wants to revitalize the area by receiving products and services from a provider in the vicinity of his or her location, there is a problem that the user cannot search for the desired provider. Furthermore, in order to build a search system for a specific area, it is necessary to newly register many providers in the area in the database, which requires a lot of time, effort, and cost, making it difficult to build.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an information provision system, an information provision program, and an information provision method that can provide information on providers of goods and services widely and appropriately without the providers having to take the trouble of registering themselves in a database, and that can be easily and appropriately constructed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 ,La The system includes a consumer information database that stores consumer information including identification information of ifline consumers, locations where the consumers receive lifelines, and business details if the consumers run a business, an information providing server that can freely acquire the consumer information from the consumer information database, and a consumer terminal that is used by the consumers and can communicate with the information providing server, and when the consumer accesses the information providing server via the consumer terminal as a search user and inputs a search word, the information providing server selects a consumer that matches the consumer information of the search user and the search word from the consumer information database as a searched user, and outputs information about the searched user to the consumer terminal of the search user. death , The information providing server preferentially selects, as the searched user, a consumer who matches the search word within the same area as the lifeline receiving location of the searching user, and if such a consumer cannot be selected, selects a consumer outside the same area as the searched user. The information providing system is characterized by the above.

[0009] Claim 2 The invention is as follows: 1 to In the information providing system described above, the information providing server selects, as the searched user, a consumer having a business content related to the business content of the searching user.

[0010] Claim 3 The invention of claim 1 OR 2 In the information provision system described above, the consumer information includes at least one of the consumer's rate menu, lifeline usage, gender, date of birth, number of people in household, residence information, equipment information and preferences, and the information provision server selects a consumer that matches the consumer information of the search user as the searched user.

[0011] Claim 4 The invention is as follows: 3 In the information provision system described in the above, the customer information database includes information held by a business operator that is affiliated with the lifeline operator.

[0012] Claim 5 The invention of the computer ,La a consumer information database that stores consumer information including identification information of an IFLINE consumer, a location where the consumer receives lifeline service, and the business details of the consumer if the consumer is running a business; and a search means that, when a search word is received from the consumer as a search user via a consumer terminal, selects a consumer matching the consumer information of the search user and the search word from the consumer information database as a searched user, and outputs information about the searched user to the consumer terminal of the search user. The search means preferentially selects a consumer who matches the search word within the same area as the lifeline receiving location of the search user as the searched user, and if a searcher cannot be selected, selects a consumer outside the same area as the searched user. The information providing program is characterized in that

[0014] Claim 6 The invention is 1. A computer-implemented information providing method, comprising:A consumer information database is provided that stores consumer information including identification information of a consumer of a lifeline, a place where the consumer receives the lifeline, and the business details of the consumer if the consumer is running a business. When a search word is received from the consumer as a search user via a consumer terminal, the consumer information of the search user and a consumer matching the search word are selected from the consumer information database as a searched user, and information about the searched user is output to the consumer terminal of the search user. and preferentially selecting, as the searched user, a consumer who matches the search word within the same region as the lifeline receiving location of the searching user, and if such a consumer cannot be selected, selecting a consumer outside the same region as the searched user. The information providing method is characterized in that: Effect of the Invention

[0016] Claim 1, Claim 5 and claims 6 According to the invention described in the above, when a consumer inputs and transmits a search word as a search user, a searched user who matches the consumer information of the search user and the search word is selected based on a consumer information database in which consumer information stored in association with a lifeline receiving contract is stored, and information on the searched user is output to the search user. Therefore, even if the searched user, i.e., a provider of a product or service, does not take the trouble of registering himself / herself in the database, it is possible to widely and appropriately provide information on the provider, and it is also possible to easily and appropriately construct the database.

[0017] That is, the consumer information is information that is necessarily stored for all lifeline consumers when they enter into a lifeline receiving contract, and is not information that is specially stored in order to provide the information providing service by the present information providing system, program, and method. That is, even if a consumer is, for example, a small or medium-sized enterprise or individual business owner in a local area, the consumer information of the small or medium-sized enterprise or individual business owner is necessarily stored in the consumer information database when the consumer enters into a lifeline receiving contract. Therefore, even if a provider of goods or services does not take the trouble to register in the database, the provider's information can be widely and appropriately provided, and even if the provider is a small or medium-sized enterprise or individual business owner in a local area, the provider can be properly searched and business opportunities can be obtained, and the search user can properly search for the searched user, i.e., the provider. In addition, since consumer information is necessarily stored and a consumer information database is constructed when a lifeline receiving contract is entered into (or since a consumer information database has already been constructed by a lifeline business operator, etc.), there is no need to construct a consumer information database in order to provide the present information providing service, and the consumer information database and the present information providing service can be easily and properly constructed and operated.

[0018] On the other hand, because the consumer information database is constructed in conjunction with a lifeline supply contract, this information provision service can be provided by lifeline operators and their related businesses. By providing such an information provision service to their consumers, lifeline operators can maintain and increase the consumers' interest in the lifeline operator, and build a long-term stable supply-demand relationship. Furthermore, this information provision service can encourage those who have not yet signed a supply contract with the lifeline operator to do so in order to gain business opportunities and increase their name recognition.

[0019] In addition, when selecting searched users, searched users that match not only the search words but also the consumer information of the searching user are selected, making it possible to select and output searched users that are more suitable for the searching user. In other words, it is possible to select searched users / providers that match the search words and match the search user's lifeline receiving location, etc., and output / provide information about the searched users. In this way, it becomes possible to properly match the searching user and the searched user.

[0020] Claim 1 , claim 5 and claims 6 According to the invention described in the above, consumers in the same area as the search user are preferentially selected as searched users, so that the search user can receive products and services from providers in the same area as the search user, thereby revitalizing the area. In addition, if a searched user cannot be selected from consumers in the same area as the search user, a searched user is selected from consumers outside the same area, so that a searched user matching the search word can be reliably selected and output.

[0021] Claim 2 According to the invention described in the above, consumers who have business content related to the business content of the search user are selected as searched users, so it is possible to select and output searched users more suitable for the search user. For example, even if the search word is only "consulting," it is possible to select searched users who specialize in (deal with) consulting, etc., which is suitable for the business content of the search user (accommodation, transportation, manufacturing, etc.), and output / provide information on searched users more suitable for the search user.

[0022] Claim 3According to the invention described in the above, searched users / providers that match the search user's rate menu, lifeline usage, gender, date of birth, number of household members, residence information, equipment information, and preferences are selected, making it possible to select and output searched users more suitable for the search user. For example, even if the search word is just "heating equipment," it is possible to select searched users who handle (are good at) heating equipment that matches the number of household members, residence information, and equipment information of the search user, and output / provide information about searched users more suitable for the search user.

[0023] Claim 4 According to the invention described above, the customer information database also includes information held by businesses that are affiliated with the lifeline operator, making it possible to provide more widespread and accurate information on providers. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a data configuration diagram of a customer information database of the information providing system of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiment.

[0026] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an information providing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information providing system 1 is a system that provides information about a specific region, and mainly includes a consumer information database 2, a consumer terminal 3 used by each consumer U of a lifeline (electricity, gas, water, communication, etc.), and an information providing server (search means) 4.

[0027] In this embodiment, the lifeline is electricity, and a case will be described in which an electric power supplier E, which mainly supplies electricity to specific regions of Japan (such as the Chugoku region, Kanto region, and Shikoku region), provides and operates an information provision service using this information provision system 1, and the consumer information database 2, information provision server 4, contract management server 5, and member management server 6, which will be described later, are operated and managed by the electric power supplier E. In addition, in Fig. 1, consumers U surrounded by dashed lines indicate organized consumers such as corporations and individual business operators, and consumers U not surrounded by dashed lines indicate individual consumers who are not corporations, individual business operators, etc.

[0028] The consumer information database 2 is a storage device that stores consumer information, which is information stored in association with an electric power receiving contract, including identification information of an electric power consumer U, an electric power receiving location, and business details in the case where the consumer U runs a business. That is, the consumer information is information that is stored and accumulated in the consumer information database 2 when the consumer U enters into an electric power receiving contract with the electric power supplier E and receives electric power supply from the electric power supplier E, and is input and registered from a contract management server 5 that operates and manages the electric power receiving contract, a member management server 6 that operates and manages a WEB member service described later, a server (not shown) that calculates and manages electricity charges, and the like. In addition, for a consumer U who has previously entered into an electric power receiving contract with the electric power supplier E and currently has an electric power receiving contract with another electric power supplier, consumer information from the time when the consumer U entered into the electric power receiving contract with the electric power supplier E is stored.

[0029] Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, for each contract number (identification information of consumer U) 21 that identifies the electricity supply contract, a first information group 22, a second information group 23, a third information group 24, a fourth information group 25, collaboration information 26 and other information 27 are stored.

[0030] The first information group 22 stores a usage location (electricity receiving location) 221, a rate menu 222, and other information 223. The usage location 221 stores the address and location of the location where the consumer U receives and uses electricity, and the rate menu 222 stores the rate menu that the consumer U has contracted with the electric power company E. This rate menu stores "metered electricity A," "low voltage electricity," "family time plan 1," and the like, and this information makes it possible to calculate electricity charges and to understand the electricity usage trends and lifestyle of the consumer U.

[0031] The second information group 23 stores a name (identification information of the consumer U) 231, a telephone number 232, a usage fee 233, a fee 234, and other information 235. The name 231 stores the name and title of the contractor / consumer U who has an electricity receiving contract with the power company E, and the telephone number 232 stores the telephone number of the consumer U. The usage fee 233 stores the amount of electricity used by the consumer U per unit time (per 30 minutes, which is a unit of measurement, per month, etc.), and the fee 234 stores the electricity fee paid by the consumer U per month. The usage fee 233 and the fee 234 make it possible to grasp the electricity usage tendency and lifestyle of the consumer U. In addition, the other information 235 stores the name of the person who pays the electricity fee, the address of the payment location, the telephone number of the payer, payment account information, and the like.

[0032] The third information group 24 stores information about a consumer U who has subscribed to a WEB member service provided by the electric power company E, and stores a category 241, a gender 242, a date of birth 243, an email address 244, a building type 245, and others 246. The category 241 stores whether the consumer U is an individual or a corporation, and the gender 242 stores the gender of the consumer U if the consumer U is an individual. The date of birth 243 stores the date of birth of the consumer U if the consumer U is an individual, the email address 244 stores the email address of the consumer U, and the building type 245 stores the type of the building where the consumer U is located or resides (for example, whether it is a detached house or an apartment building). Here, the WEB member service provides a service in which points are given to the consumer U according to the amount of electricity used, etc., and the consumer U can exchange the points for points of businesses (supermarkets, mobile phone companies, etc.) that cooperate with the electric power company E, or can purchase various products with the points.

[0033] The fourth information group 25 stores information about a consumer U who is a subscriber to a WEB member service provided by the electric power company E and has registered attribute information, and stores household 251, dwelling type (dwelling information) 252, floor plan (dwelling information) 253, equipment (equipment information) 254, business content 255, purpose of use 256, and others 257. The household 251 stores the number of people in the household of the consumer U, the dwelling type 252 stores the type of building where the consumer U is located and resides (for example, a detached house, whether it is owned or rented, or an apartment building or company housing), and the floor plan 253 stores the floor plan of the building where the consumer U is located and resides (such as a studio apartment, 1K, 1DK, 1LDK, etc.).

[0034] The equipment 254 stores information about equipment installed in the building where the consumer U is located or lives, such as whether the heat source used is electricity, LP gas, or kerosene, whether the kitchen equipment is a gas stove or an IH (electromagnetic cooker), whether the hot water equipment is a gas water heater or an electric water heater, whether the heating equipment is an air conditioner or a kerosene heater, or whether or not a demand controller (received power monitoring and control device) is used. The business details 255 stores the business details of the consumer U when the consumer U runs a business (when the consumer U is a provider of goods and services), and the business details include the type of industry (food sales, agriculture, day care services, home appliance sales, dental clinics, etc.), the contents of the goods and services provided, unique (specialty) technology, goods and services, the consumer U's website (homepage), etc. The purpose of use 256 stores the main purpose for which the consumer U uses electricity (warehouse, barn, common areas of an apartment building, etc.). Other 257 stores information specific to consumer U, such as consumer U's hobbies and preferences (lifestyle, preferred manufacturers and brands, etc.).

[0035] The collaboration information 26 stores information about businesses collaborating with the electric power company E in the case where the consumer U subscribes to a web member service provided by the electric power company E. For example, the names of supermarket businesses and mobile phone companies where the consumer U exchanges points granted by the electric power company E are stored.

[0036] Furthermore, the consumer information database 2 also stores information held by businesses that are affiliated with the electric power business operator E. In other words, consumer information on consumers of the affiliated businesses (e.g., supermarkets, mobile phone companies, etc.) is also stored, and the data content and structure are the same as those described above.

[0037] The consumer terminal 3 is a communication terminal used by the consumer U and capable of communicating with the information providing server 4 and the like, and may be any type of terminal, such as a smartphone (multi-function mobile phone) or a personal computer.

[0038] The information providing server 4 is a server that can freely obtain consumer information from the consumer information database 2, and is accessible from the consumer terminal 3 via a communication network. This information providing server 4 constitutes a search platform for providing an information providing service, and provides a search website for the information providing service. That is, when a consumer U accesses the information providing server 4, i.e., the search website, via the consumer terminal 3, a search input screen for inputting search words / keywords is displayed on the consumer terminal 3. Then, when the consumer U inputs a search word from the consumer terminal 3, the search results are displayed and output on the consumer terminal 3 as follows.

[0039] Here, the consumer U who accesses the information providing server 4 in this manner and inputs a search word becomes a search user. Also, each consumer U, i.e., each consumer terminal 3, is given an account, and the consumer U accesses the information providing server 4 using this account, or accesses the information providing server 4 by assigning a contract number (identification information of the consumer U), so that it is possible to recognize which consumer U is accessing the information providing server 4.

[0040] Basically, a consumer U that matches the consumer information and search word of the search user is selected from the consumer information database 2 as a searched user, and information about this searched user is output to the consumer terminal 3 of the search user. In other words, when a product, service, technology, term, etc. is input as a search word, a consumer U that has consumer information that matches and is related to the search word and that matches and is related to the consumer information of the search user is searched and selected as a searched user from the consumer information database 2. Then, information about the selected searched user, such as part of the consumer information of this searched user (such as business content 255) and a link to the searched user's website, is displayed on the consumer terminal 3 of the search user. Here, in this embodiment, consumers U who operate a business are basically searched for and selected as searched users, but even consumers U who operate a business (corporations or sole proprietors) can be made not to be searched for and selected as searched users by request, selection, etc. of this consumer U, and even consumers U who do not operate a business (individuals) can be searched for and selected as searched users by request, selection, etc. of this consumer U.

[0041] Specifically, in the first search case, a consumer U that matches the search word and is in the same region as the power receiving location of the search user is preferentially selected as the searched user, and if it cannot be selected, a consumer U outside the same region is selected as the searched user / provider. Here, the same region refers to the same ward, city, town, village, prefecture, district, etc., and may be set and selected by the system, or may be set and selected by the search user. For example, when the same prefecture is set as the same region and "coronavirus countermeasures" is input as the search word, first, the power receiving location of the search user (usage location 221) is obtained from the consumer information of this search user. Next, a consumer U that operates a business that provides products and services related to coronavirus countermeasures and is located in the same prefecture as the power receiving location of the search user is searched and selected from the consumer information (usage location 221 and business content 255, etc.) in the consumer information database 2. As a result, for example, if the search user is an individual, drug stores and home centers that are located in the same prefecture as the search user and that sell masks and disinfectant sprays, or stores that sell surgical masks, etc. are selected. Also, if the search user is a corporation, businesses that are located in the same prefecture as the search user and that manufacture and sell splash prevention guard panels, temperature-measuring thermo cameras, ventilation equipment, etc. are selected.

[0042] On the other hand, if a consumer U operating a business providing products and services related to corona countermeasures in the same prefecture cannot be selected, or to search for the next search ranking (next candidate in search ranking), a consumer U operating a business providing products and services related to corona countermeasures outside the prefecture is selected as the searched user. In this case, in this embodiment, a consumer U operating a business in the same district (e.g., Chugoku region) as the power receiving location of the search user is preferentially selected. That is, while expanding the search target area, consumers U located in the same ward, city, town, village, prefecture, or district as the search user are selected as the searched user with priority (from nearby to distant), in order to revitalize the area where the search user is located. Furthermore, if a consumer U operating a business in the same district as the search user cannot be selected, or to search for the next search ranking, a consumer U operating a business outside this district is selected.

[0043] In the second search case, a consumer U having business content related to the business content of the search user is selected as a searched user / provider. In other words, when the search user runs a business (when business content is stored in the consumer information), a consumer U having consumer information that matches / related to the search word and that matches / related to the business content of the search user is searched and selected as a searched user from the consumer information database 2.

[0044] For example, when "consulting" or "business efficiency" is entered as a search word, consumers U that provide products and services related to consulting or business efficiency and that provide products and services that are suitable and related to the business content of the search user are searched and selected from consumer information (such as business content 255) in the consumer information database 2. As a result, for example, if the business content of the search user is the accommodation industry, consumers U that provide systems and consulting related to accommodation management and payroll management are selected, if the business content of the search user is the transportation industry, consumers U that provide logistics management systems and consulting are selected, and if the business content of the search user is the manufacturing industry, consumers U that provide systems and consulting related to productivity management and improvement are selected.

[0045] Furthermore, as the next search ranking (next candidate for search ranking), a consumer U that provides products and services related to consulting and business efficiency that are not dependent on the business content of the search user (common to all businesses) is searched for and selected. For example, a consumer U that provides cloud accounting systems, general consulting, application software suited to customers, etc. is selected. Here, as in the first search case above, while expanding the search target area, consumers U located in the same ward, city, town, village, prefecture, or district as the location of the search user may be searched for and selected as searched users with priority.

[0046] As a third search case, a consumer U having consumer information that matches / related to the search word and that matches at least one of the search user's rate menu, electricity usage, gender, date of birth, number of people in household, residence information, facility information, and preferences is searched for and selected as a searched user from the consumer information database 2. In other words, a consumer U that matches / related to the search word and provides products and services that match / related to the search user's electricity usage, gender, residence information, etc. is searched for and selected.

[0047] For example, when "formal wear" is entered as a search word, a consumer U that offers formal wear and ceremonial services that match the search user's gender, age (date of birth), tastes, hobbies, etc. is searched for and selected. When "real estate" is entered as a search word, a consumer U that offers real estate and real estate appraisal services that match the search user's rate menu, electricity usage (electricity usage trends, lifestyle), number of household members, residence information, etc. is searched for and selected. When "heating" is entered as a search word, a consumer U that offers heating equipment and energy saving consulting that match the search user's rate menu, electricity usage, number of household members, residence information, facility information, etc. is searched for and selected.

[0048] Furthermore, when "air conditioning" or "hot water supply" is entered as a search word, if the search user is an individual, an electrical appliance store (consumer U) that provides air conditioning equipment or hot water supply equipment that matches the search user's rate menu, electricity usage, number of household members, residence information, equipment information, etc. is searched for and selected, and if the search user runs a business, a construction company, equipment company, or consulting company (consumer U) that provides electrical work, air conditioning systems, equipment consulting, etc. that matches the search user's business content, rate menu, electricity usage, residence information, equipment information, etc. is searched for and selected. In other words, the searched user is selected differently depending on whether the search user is an individual or a person running a business (for example, a corporation).

[0049] As described above, according to the information provision system 1 and the information provision method by the information provision system 1, when a consumer U inputs and transmits a search word as a search user, a searched user who matches the consumer information of the search user and the search word is selected based on the consumer information database 2 in which consumer information stored in association with an electricity supply contract is stored, and information on the searched user is output to the search user. Therefore, even if the searched user, i.e., a provider of a product or service, does not take the trouble of registering himself / herself in the database, it is possible to widely and appropriately provide information on the provider, and it is also possible to easily and appropriately construct the database.

[0050] That is, the consumer information is information that is necessarily stored for all the power consumers U when they enter into an electricity receiving contract, and is not information that is specially stored in order to provide this information provision service. That is, even if a local small and medium-sized enterprise or individual business owner enters into an electricity receiving contract, the consumer information of the small and medium-sized enterprise or individual business owner is necessarily stored in the consumer information database 2. Therefore, even if a provider of goods or services does not take the trouble to register in the database, the provider's information can be widely and appropriately provided, and even a local small and medium-sized enterprise or individual business owner can be properly searched and obtain business opportunities, and the search user can properly search for the searched user, i.e., the provider, that the search user desires. In addition, when an electricity receiving contract is entered into, consumer information is necessarily stored and the consumer information database 2 is constructed (or the consumer information database 2 has already been constructed by the power provider E, etc.), so there is no need to take the trouble to construct the consumer information database 2 in order to provide this information provision service, and it is possible to easily and properly construct and operate the consumer information database 2 and this information provision service.

[0051] Meanwhile, because the consumer information database 2 is constructed in conjunction with an electricity supply contract, this information provision service can be provided by the power supplier E and its related businesses. By providing such an information provision service to their consumers U, the power supplier E etc. can maintain and increase the interest of the consumers U in the power supplier E etc., and build a long-lasting, stable supply-demand relationship. Furthermore, it can encourage those who have not yet signed an electricity supply contract with the power supplier E to enter into an electricity supply contract with the power supplier E in order to gain business opportunities and increase their name recognition through this information provision service.

[0052] In addition, when selecting searched users, searched users that match and are related to the search user's consumer information as well as the search word are selected, making it possible to select and output searched users that are more suitable for the search user. In other words, it is possible to select searched users / providers that match the search word and match the search user's electricity receiving location, etc., and output and provide information about the searched users. In this way, it becomes possible to properly match search users and searched users.

[0053] In addition, because consumers U in the same area as the search user are preferentially selected as searched users, it is possible to receive products and services from providers in the same area as the search user, thereby revitalizing the area. In addition, if a searched user cannot be selected from consumers U in the same area as the search user, a searched user is selected from consumers U outside the same area, so it is possible to reliably select and output a searched user who matches the search word.

[0054] Furthermore, because consumers U who have business content related to the business content of the search user are selected as searched users, it is possible to select and output searched users more suitable for the search user. For example, even if the search word is only "consulting," it is possible to select searched users who specialize in (deal with) consulting, etc., which is suitable for the business content of the search user (accommodation, transportation, manufacturing, etc.), and output / provide information on searched users more suitable for the search user.

[0055] Similarly, searched users / providers that match the search user's rate menu, electricity usage, gender, date of birth, number of people in household, residence information, equipment information, and preferences are selected, making it possible to select and output searched users more suitable for the search user. For example, even if the search word is just "heating equipment," it is possible to select searched users who handle (are good at) heating equipment that matches the number of people in household, residence information, and equipment information of the search user, and output / provide information about searched users more suitable for the search user.

[0056] In addition, since the customer information database 2 also contains information held by businesses that are affiliated with the electric power business operator E, it becomes possible to provide more widespread and accurate information on providers.

[0057] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and even if there are design changes within the scope of the present invention, they are included in the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where a consumer U who provides a product or service, that is, a consumer U who runs a business, is searched for and selected is mainly illustrated and described, but the present invention can also be applied to the case where an individual consumer U who does not run a business is searched for. For example, a consumer U who has the same hobby as a search user can be searched for and selected. In addition, the consumer information database 2 and the information providing server 4 are separate entities, but the consumer information database 2 may be integrally provided in the information providing server 4. In addition, the case where the lifeline is electricity has been described, but the lifeline may be gas, water, communication, etc.

[0058] Incidentally, by installing the following information provision program in a general-purpose computer, it may be possible to perform a search equivalent to that of the above-mentioned information provision system 1. That is, the information provision program is characterized in that it causes the computer to function as a consumer information database that stores consumer information, which is information stored in association with an electricity receiving contract and includes identification information of an electricity consumer, an electricity receiving location, and business details in the case where the consumer runs a business, and a search means that, upon receiving a search word from a consumer as a search user via a consumer terminal, selects a consumer that matches the consumer information and search word of the search user from the consumer information database as a searched user and outputs information about the searched user to the consumer terminal of the search user, and the search means preferentially selects a consumer that matches the search word within the same area as the electricity receiving location of the search user as the searched user, and if a search word cannot be selected, selects a consumer outside the same area as the searched user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1 Information provision system 2 Customer information database 3 Consumer terminal 4. Information server (search means) 5. Contract Management Server 6 Membership Management Server U Consumer E. Electricity providers (lifeline providers)

Claims

1. A consumer information database that stores consumer information including identification information of consumers of lifelines, locations where the consumers receive the lifelines, and business details of the consumers if they are running a business; An information providing server capable of freely acquiring the consumer information from the consumer information database; A consumer terminal used by the consumer and capable of communicating with the information providing server; When the consumer accesses the information providing server via the consumer terminal as a search user and inputs a search word, the information providing server selects a consumer that matches the consumer information of the search user and the search word from the consumer information database as a searched user, and outputs information about the searched user to the consumer terminal of the search user; The information providing server preferentially selects, as the searched user, a consumer who matches the search word within the same area as the lifeline receiving location of the searching user, and if such a consumer cannot be selected, selects a consumer outside the same area as the searched user. An information providing system comprising:

2. The information providing server selects, as the searched user, a consumer having a business content related to the business content of the search user.

2. The information providing system according to claim 1 .

3. The consumer information includes at least one of the consumer's rate menu, lifeline usage, gender, date of birth, number of household members, residence information, facility information, and preferences, The information providing server selects a consumer that matches the consumer information of the search user as the searched user.

3. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing system is a system for providing information to a user.

4. The consumer information database includes information held by businesses that are affiliated with the lifeline business operator.

4. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing system is a system for providing information to a user.

5. Computer, a consumer information database that stores consumer information including identification information of a consumer of a lifeline, a place where the consumer receives the lifeline, and a business description of the consumer if the consumer is running a business; a search means for receiving a search word from the consumer as a search user via a consumer terminal, selecting a consumer matching the consumer information of the search user and the search word from the consumer information database as a searched user, and outputting information about the searched user to the consumer terminal of the search user; Functioning as a The search means preferentially selects, as the searched user, a consumer who matches the search word within the same region as the lifeline receiving location of the search user, and if such a consumer cannot be selected, selects a consumer outside the same region as the searched user.

2. An information providing program comprising:

6. A computer-implemented information providing method, comprising: A consumer information database is provided for storing consumer information including identification information of a consumer of a lifeline, a place where the consumer receives the lifeline, and a business description of the consumer if the consumer is running a business; When a search word is received from the consumer as a search user via a consumer terminal, the consumer information of the search user and a consumer that matches the search word are selected from the consumer information database as a searched user, and information about the searched user is output to the consumer terminal of the search user; A consumer who matches the search word and is in the same area as the lifeline receiving location of the searching user is preferentially selected as the searched user, and if such a consumer cannot be selected, a consumer outside the same area is selected as the searched user.

13. An information providing method comprising:

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