Information processing device

Abstract

To provide an information processing device, method and program that enables business operators to achieve better business results and users to reduce losses due to the influence of dynamic pricing and make hotel reservations at reasonable prices. [Solution] The information processing device has a market information acquisition means that acquires usage fee information for each facility to be used, type of equipment to be used, and date or time of use based on information stored in an access destination storage means, and registers the information in a fee storage means, a desired conditions acceptance means that accepts the desired usage condition information regarding the facility to be used, type of equipment to be used, and date or time of use of the facility, desired usage fee information, and contact information of the person wishing to use, a determination means that determines whether the usage fee information specified by the desired usage condition information has fallen below the desired usage fee information due to a decrease in the usage fee information stored in the fee storage means, and a guidance means that, if it is determined that the usage fee information has fallen below the desired usage fee information, provides guidance to the person wishing to use how to make a usage reservation under the conditions specified in the desired usage condition information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Relates to the technology of a system for making reservations for application facilities (hereinafter abbreviated as DP application facilities) that assign facilities and personnel for a certain period of time and eliminate supply-demand gaps through dynamic pricing. This includes hotels, inns, conference rooms, banquet halls, restaurants that offer course meals, etc.

Background Art

[0002] The reservation of DP application facilities is established only when the service provision conditions including the usage price presented by the DP application facility side and the service acceptable price that can be accepted by the user who wishes to use it are negotiated.

[0003] On the other hand, in recent years, the spread of public communication networks such as the Internet has been remarkable, and the sale, purchase, and delivery arrangement of goods and the reservation of services are generally carried out as e-commerce transactions via the Internet.

[0004] Under such circumstances, for the purpose of smoothly making reservations for DP application facilities, for example, in Patent Document 1, a reservation system using a communication line that enables a service applicant to present a desired price for the service to the service provider has been proposed. Also, in Patent Document 2, an idea is disclosed that distributes the desired information held by the user to all contract facilities corresponding to the desire in the desired area via the Internet, mediates for the user to obtain a response, and enables a reservation to be established when the desires of both parties match.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] By the way, the service prices offered by operators of facilities that apply DP fluctuate daily based on the concept of dynamic pricing. However, with the conventional technology described above, there was a problem in that potential customers who could not agree on the usage fee at a certain point in time but might be able to agree in subsequent supply and demand fluctuations were missed.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to lower the psychological barriers for operators of DP-applied facilities to adopt challenging sales strategies, thereby enabling them to achieve better business results, and to provide an information processing device that allows prospective users to reserve and use facilities at a reasonable price while minimizing losses due to the effects of dynamic pricing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One form of the information processing device to be disclosed is: Facilities available Each access destination includes an access destination storage means that stores access destination information, a fee storage means that stores usage fee information for each facility used, type of equipment used (room type, venue, seat, etc.) and usage date (or usage time), and based on the access destination information stored in the access destination storage means, Facilities available A market information acquisition means that acquires the aforementioned usage fee information for each type of facility used (room type, venue, seating, etc.) and usage date (or usage time), and registers the acquired usage fee information in the fee storage means; a preference condition acceptance means that accepts preference condition information regarding the facility to be used, type of facility used (room type, venue, seating, etc.) and usage date (or usage time), preference usage fee information, and contact information of the preference user; a determination means that determines whether the usage fee information specified by the preference condition information has fallen below the preference usage fee information due to a decrease in the usage fee information stored in the fee storage means; and if the determination means determines that it has fallen below the preference, a guidance means that guides the preference user on how to make a reservation under the conditions specified by the preference condition information, based on the contact information of the preference user. A second guidance means that, based on an operation by the person in charge of the facility, allows the person in charge to view the desired usage conditions information and the desired usage fee information, and, based on the contact information of the prospective user requested by the person in charge, guides the prospective user requested by the person in charge on how to make a reservation for use under the conditions specified in the desired usage conditions information. It is characterized by having the following features. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The information processing equipment to be disclosed will lower the psychological barriers for operators of DP-applicable facilities to adopt challenging sales strategies, thereby enabling them to achieve better business results and allowing prospective users to minimize losses due to the impact of dynamic pricing and to make reservations and use the facilities at a reasonable price. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the overview of the information processing device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram of the information processing device according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a charge storage means according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the processing of the second guide means according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows an example of the crawling process performed by the information processing device according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] This flowchart shows an example of the flow of the guidance process (part 1) for the reservation method by the information processing device according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows an example of the flow of the guidance process (part 2) for the reservation method by the information processing device according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Operating principle of the information processing device according to this embodiment)

[0012] Using FIGS. 1 to 4, the operating principle of the information processing apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as "this apparatus") 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. The following example takes up the accommodation industry. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the connection relationship between this apparatus 100 and external apparatuses 330 and 350, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of this apparatus 100, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining the processing of this apparatus 100.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, this apparatus 100 is connected via a communication network 360 to a facility terminal 350 operated by a person in charge 340 of a facility 220 and a user terminal 330 operated by a person 320 who wishes to use the facility 220.

[0014] The communication network 360 may be either wired or wireless. The facility 220 is, for example, a hotel or a ryokan. The user terminal 330 and the accommodation facility terminal 350 are so-called computers, and may be, for example, a portable information terminal such as a smartphone, or a notebook-type or desktop-type personal computer.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, this apparatus 100 includes an access destination storage means 110, a fee storage means 120, a market information acquisition means 130, a desired condition reception means 140, a determination means 150, a guidance means 160, and a second guidance means 170.

[0016] The access destination storage means 110 stores access destination information 210 for each facility 220. The access destination information 210 is, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Further, the access destination storage means 110 may store the access destination information 210 for each facility 220, usage date (or usage time zone) 230, type of assigned facility (room type, venue, seat, etc.) 240, number of users 250, and usage plan 260. In addition, at the designated destination of the access destination information 210, usage fee information 270 is posted in a state where it can be acquired for each facility 220, usage date (or usage time zone) 230, type of assigned facility (room type, venue, seat, etc.) 240, number of users 250, and usage plan 260.

[0017] The fee storage means 120 stores usage fee information 270 for each of the usage facility 220, usage date (or usage time period) 230, assigned usage facility (room type, venue, seat, etc.) type 240, number of users 250, and usage plan 260. As shown in FIG. 3, the fee storage means 120 associates the usage facility 220: A Hotel, usage date 230: March 28th, assigned usage facility (room type, venue, seat, etc.) type 240: Moderate Double, number of users 250: 2 persons with the usage plan 260 (including breakfast, etc.) and stores the usage fee information 270: 12,800 yen. Similarly, the fee storage means 120 associates the usage facility 220: A Hotel, usage date (or usage time period) 230: March 28th, usage facility (room type, venue, seat, etc.) type 240: Non-smoking · Moderate Twin <23 square meters>, number of users 250: 2 persons and stores the usage fee information 270: 13,800 yen.

[0018] The market information acquisition means 130 accesses the designated destination of the access destination information 210 stored in the access destination storage means 110 and acquires usage fee information 270 for each of the usage facility 220, usage date (or usage time period) 230, usage facility (room type, venue, seat, etc.) type 240, number of users 250, and usage plan 260. That is, the market information acquisition means 130 performs a crawl process. Then, the market information acquisition means 注册 130 registers the usage fee information 270 acquired by the crawl process in the fee storage means 110 for each of the usage facility 220, usage date (or usage time period) 230, usage facility (room type, venue, seat, etc.) type 240, number of users 250, and usage plan 260.

[0019] The desired condition reception means 140 receives desired usage condition information 280, desired usage fee information 290, and contact information 300 of the usage applicant 320 regarding the usage facility 220, usage date (or usage time period) 230, usage facility (room type, venue, seat, etc.) type 240, number of users 250, and usage plan 260 from the usage applicant 320 (user terminal 330). The contact information 300 is, for example, a user ID such as address · name, telephone number, email address, application, etc.

[0020] It is assumed that the service provision conditions, including the usage price 270, presented by the facility 220, and the acceptable service price 290 that the prospective user 320 can accept, did not match, and therefore the reservation was not finalized at the time of processing by the request condition acceptance method 140.

[0021] The determination means 150 determines whether the usage fee information 270 stored in the fee storage means 110 has decreased, and whether the usage fee information 270 specified in the desired usage conditions information 280 has fallen below the desired usage fee information 280.

[0022] The service prices 270 offered by the operators of the 220 facilities used fluctuate daily based on the concept of dynamic pricing. Through the processing of the determination means 150, it is possible to extract prospective customers 320 who, at one point in time, could not agree on the usage fee 270 but could potentially agree at another point in time.

[0023] If the determination means 150 determines that the usage fee information 270 is less than the desired usage fee information 280, the guidance means 160 will provide guidance (notify) the prospective user 320 of a method 310 for making a reservation under the conditions specified in the desired usage conditions information 280, based on the prospective user's contact information 300. The method 310 for making a reservation may be, for example, a reservation telephone number or the URL of a reservation website, and the website URL may be a dedicated URL that is not publicly available. The means by which the guidance means 160 provides guidance may be, for example, telephone, email, or message notification from a designated application.

[0024] Through the processing by the guidance means 160, the service provision price 270 offered by the service providers of the facilities 220 fluctuates daily based on the concept of dynamic pricing. Through the processing by the determination means 150, it is possible to reduce the loss of potential customers 320 who did not agree on the usage fee 270 at one point but may have agreed at another point.

[0025] The second guidance means 170 allows the person in charge 340 of the facility 220 to view a list of desired usage conditions information 280 and desired usage fee information 290 based on an operation performed by the person in charge 340 via the facility terminal 350. The second guidance means 170 allows the person in charge 340 to view a list of desired usage conditions information 280 and desired usage fee information 290, for example, as shown in Figure 4.

[0026] As shown in Figure 4, the second guidance means 170 allows, for example, the person in charge at Hotel A 340 to view a list of desired usage conditions information 280 and desired usage fee information 290. The second guidance means 170 allows, for example, the person in charge at Hotel A 340 to view desired usage conditions information 280, which includes the facility to be used 220: Hotel A, the date (or time of use) 230: January 18th, the plan to be used 260: with breakfast, and the type of facilities to be used (room type, venue, seating, etc.) 290: non-smoking twin room, and desired usage fee information 290: 12,500 yen.

[0027] Simultaneously, the second information means 170 also allows, for example, the person in charge at Hotel A 340 to view desired usage conditions information 280, including accommodation 220: Hotel A, usage date (or usage time) 230: January 18th, usage plan 260: room only, usage facilities (room type, venue, seating, etc.) type: non-smoking double, and desired usage fee information 290: 12,500 yen.

[0028] Furthermore, the second guidance means 170, based on the contact information 300 of the prospective users 320 whom the person in charge 340 has determined to be worthy of guidance after viewing the list of desired usage conditions information 280 and desired usage fee information 290, guides the prospective users 320 of their choice to a method 310 that allows them to make a reservation for use under the conditions specified in the desired usage conditions information 280.

[0029] Based on the operating principle described above, this device 100 facilitates recovery when there is a discrepancy between the plan and the actual results, thereby lowering the psychological barrier to adopting challenging sales strategies and ultimately aiming to achieve better business results.

[0030] Furthermore, based on the operating principle described above, this device 100 can accommodate the behavioral characteristics of both customers who have long lead times (booking well in advance of the usage date) and can tolerate high unit prices (mainly inbound tourists) and customers who have short lead times and cannot tolerate high unit prices (mainly domestic tourists). In particular, the latter can book and use services at a satisfactory price by minimizing losses due to the effects of dynamic pricing.

[0031] This device 100 aims to lower the psychological barriers for operators of user facilities 220 to adopt challenging sales strategies, thereby enabling them to achieve better business results, and to minimize losses due to the impact of dynamic pricing for prospective users 320, enabling them to make reservations and use the facilities at a reasonable price. (Hardware configuration of the information processing device according to this embodiment)

[0032] An example of the hardware configuration of the device 100 will be explained using Figure 5. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the device 100. As shown in Figure 5, the device 100 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 410, ROM (Read-Only Memory) 420, RAM (Random Access Memory) 430, auxiliary storage device 440, communication I / F 450, input device 460, display device 470, and recording medium I / F 480.

[0033] The CPU 410 is a device that executes programs stored in the ROM 420. It processes data loaded into the RAM 430 according to program instructions and controls the entire device 100. The ROM 420 stores the programs and data that the CPU 410 will execute. When the CPU 410 executes a program stored in the ROM 420, the RAM 430 loads the programs and data to be executed and temporarily holds the calculation data during the calculation.

[0034] The auxiliary storage device 440 is a device that stores the operating system (OS), which is the basic software, and application programs related to this embodiment, along with related data. The auxiliary storage device 440 includes, for example, an access destination storage means 110 and a charge storage means 120, and is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory.

[0035] The communication interface 450 is an interface for exchanging data with other devices 330 and 350 that provide communication functions, by connecting to a communication network 360 such as a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

[0036] The input device 460 is a device for inputting data into the main device 100, such as a keyboard. The display device (output device) 470 is a device consisting of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc., and functions as a user interface for the user to use the functions of the main device 100 and to make various settings. The recording medium I / F 480 is an interface for sending and receiving data with the recording medium 490, such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or USB memory.

[0037] Each of the means of this device 100 may be realized by the CPU 410 executing a program corresponding to each means stored in the ROM 420 or auxiliary storage device 440. Alternatively, each of the means of this device 100 may be realized by the processing related to each means being implemented as hardware. Furthermore, the program according to the present invention may be read from an external server device via the communication I / F 450, or read from the recording medium 490 via the recording medium I / F 480, and the device 100 may execute the program. (Example of processing by the information processing device according to this embodiment) (1) Crawl processing by this device 100

[0038] An example of crawling by the device 100 will be explained using Figure 6. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the crawling process by the device 100.

[0039] In S10, the market information acquisition means 130 accesses the designated destination of the access destination information 210 stored in the access destination storage means 110 and acquires usage fee information 270 for each facility used 220, usage date (or usage time) 230, type of equipment used (room type, venue, seating, etc.) 240, number of users 250, and usage plan 260. In other words, the market information acquisition means 130 performs a crawl process.

[0040] In S20, the market information acquisition means 130 registers the usage fee information 270 obtained by the crawling process in S10 into the fee storage means 110 for each facility used 220, usage date (or usage time) 230, type of equipment used (room type, venue, seating, etc.) 240, number of users 250, and usage plan 260. (2) Guidance process for reservation method by this device 100 (Part 1)

[0041] An example of the reservation guidance process by this device 100 will be explained using Figure 7. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the reservation guidance process by this device 100.

[0042] In S110, the request condition reception means 140 receives information from the prospective user 320 (user terminal 330) regarding desired usage conditions 280 concerning the facility to be used 220, the date (or time of use) 230, the type of equipment to be used (room type, venue, seating, etc.) 240, the number of users 250, and the usage plan 260, as well as information on desired usage fees 290 and contact information 300 of the prospective user 320. The contact information 300 includes, for example, address, name, telephone number, email address, and user ID such as application.

[0043] It is assumed that the service provision conditions, including the usage price 270, presented by the facility 220, and the acceptable service price 290 that the prospective user 320 can accept, did not match, and therefore the reservation was not finalized at the time of processing by the request condition acceptance method 140.

[0044] In S120, the determination means 150 determines whether the usage fee information 270 stored in the fee storage means 110 has decreased, and whether the usage fee information 270 identified in the desired usage conditions information 280 has fallen below the desired usage fee information 280.

[0045] The service prices 270 offered by the operators of the 220 facilities used fluctuate daily based on the concept of dynamic pricing. Through the processing of the determination means 150, it is possible to extract prospective customers 320 who, at one point in time, could not agree on the usage fee 270 but could potentially agree at another point in time.

[0046] If, in S130, the determination means 150 determines that the usage fee information 270 stored in the fee storage means 110 has decreased, and that the usage fee information 270 identified by the desired usage conditions information 280 has fallen below the desired usage fee information 280 (YES in S130), the process proceeds to 140.

[0047] In S140, the guidance means 160 provides guidance (notification) to the prospective user 320, based on their contact information 300, on a method 310 for making a reservation under the conditions specified in the desired usage conditions information 280. The method 310 for making a reservation is, for example, a reservation telephone number or a URL for a reservation website, and the website URL may be a dedicated URL that is not publicly available. The means by which the guidance means 160 provides guidance is, for example, telephone, email, or message notification from a designated application.

[0048] Through processing by the guidance means 160, the service provision price 270 offered by the operators of the facilities 220 fluctuates daily based on the concept of dynamic pricing. This reduces the loss of potential customers 320 who may not agree to the usage fee 270 at one point but may be able to agree at another. (3) Guidance process for reservation method by this device 100 (Part 2)

[0049] An example of the reservation guidance process by this device 100 will be explained using Figure 8. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the reservation guidance process by this device 100.

[0050] In S210, the second guidance means 170 causes the person in charge 340 of the facility 220 to view a list of desired usage conditions information 280 and desired usage fee information 290 based on an operation performed by the person in charge 340 via the facility terminal 350. The second guidance means 170 causes the person in charge 340 to view a list of desired usage conditions information 280 and desired usage fee information 290, for example, as shown in Figure 4.

[0051] As shown in Figure 4, the second guidance means 170 allows, for example, the person in charge at Hotel A 340 to view a list of desired usage conditions information 280 and desired usage fee information 290. The second guidance means 170 allows, for example, the person in charge at Hotel A 340 to view desired usage conditions information 280, which includes the facility to be used 220: Hotel A, the date (or time of use) 230: January 18th, the plan 260: with breakfast, and the type (room type, venue, seating, etc.) as non-smoking twin, and desired usage fee information 290: 12,500 yen.

[0052] Simultaneously, the second guidance means 170 also allows, for example, the person in charge at Hotel A 340 to view desired usage conditions information 280, including the facility to be used 220: Hotel A, date of use 230: January 18th, plan of use 260: room only, type of facilities used (room type, venue, seating, etc.): non-smoking double room, and desired usage fee information 290: 12,500 yen.

[0053] If the person in charge 340, who has viewed the list of desired usage conditions information 280 and desired usage fee information 290 in S220, decides that they should send a notice to one of the prospective users 320 (YES in S220), the process proceeds to S230.

[0054] In S230, the second guidance means 170 guides the person in charge 340 to a preferred user 320, based on the contact information 300 of a preferred user 320, a method 310 that allows the user to make a reservation under the conditions specified in the preferred usage conditions information 280.

[0055] The method 310 for making a reservation is, for example, a reservation telephone number or the URL of a reservation website. The website URL may be a dedicated URL that is not publicly available. The means of guidance by the second guidance means 170 is, for example, telephone, email, or message notification from a designated application.

[0056] Through processing by the second guidance means 170, the service provision price 270 presented by the operators of the facilities 220 fluctuates daily based on the concept of dynamic pricing. This reduces the loss of potential customers 320 who may not agree to the usage fee 270 at one point but may be able to agree at another.

[0057] By performing the above-described processing, the device 100 facilitates recovery when there is a discrepancy between the plan and the actual results, thereby lowering the psychological barrier to adopting challenging sales strategies and ultimately aiming to achieve better business results.

[0058] Furthermore, by performing the above-described processing, the device 100 can accommodate the behavioral characteristics of both customers who have long lead times (booking well in advance of the usage date) and can tolerate high unit prices (mainly inbound tourists) and customers who have short lead times and cannot tolerate high unit prices (mainly domestic tourists). In particular, the latter can book and use the service at a satisfactory price by minimizing losses due to the effects of dynamic pricing.

[0059] By performing the above-described processing, the device 100 helps the operators of the user facilities 220 to lower the psychological barrier to adopting challenging sales strategies, thereby enabling them to achieve better business results, and helps prospective users 320 to minimize losses due to the effects of dynamic pricing and to make accommodation reservations at a price they find satisfactory.

[0060] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 100 Information Processing Device 110 Access destination storage means 120 Payment storage method 130 Means of acquiring market information 140 Method of receiving desired conditions 150 Judgment means 160 Guidance methods 170 Second Guidance Method 210 Access Information 220 facilities 230 Usage date (or usage time) 240 Types of Facilities Used (Room Type, Venue, Seating, etc.) 250 Number of users 260 Usage Plans 270 Usage Fee Information 280 Desired Terms of Use Information 290 Desired Usage Fee Information 300 Contact Information 310 How to make a reservation 320 Applicants 330 user terminals 340 Person in charge of the facility using the service 350 user terminals 360 Communication Network 410 CPU 420 ROM 430 RAM 440 Auxiliary storage 450 communication interfaces 460 Input Devices 470 Output device 480 Recording Media Interfaces 490 recording media

Claims

1. For each facility used, an access destination storage means is provided to store access destination information, A fee storage means that stores fee information for each type of facility used, equipment used (room type, venue, seating, etc.), and date of use (or time of use), A market information acquisition means that, based on the access destination information stored in the access destination storage means, acquires the usage fee information for each type of facility used, equipment used (room type, venue, seating, etc.) and usage date (or usage time), and registers the acquired usage fee information in the fee storage means. A means for receiving requests for desired usage conditions, including information on the type of facility and equipment (room type, venue, seating, etc.) to be used by the applicant, the date (or time of use), the desired usage fee, and the contact information of the applicant. A determination means for determining whether the usage fee information specified by the desired usage conditions information has fallen below the desired usage fee information due to a decrease in the usage fee information stored in the fee storage means, If the determination means determines that the conditions are below the specified level, the guidance means provides instructions on how to make a reservation based on the contact information of the prospective user, under the conditions specified in the desired usage conditions information. An information processing device characterized by having a second guidance means that, based on an operation by the person in charge of the facility being used, allows the person in charge to view the desired usage conditions information and the desired usage fee information, and, based on the contact information of the prospective user requested by the person in charge, guides the prospective user requested by the person in charge on how to make a reservation for use under the conditions specified in the desired usage conditions information.

2. The market information acquisition means acquires usage fee information for each facility used, type of equipment used (room type, venue, seating, etc.), and usage date (or usage time period) based on the access destination information stored in the access destination storage means which stores access destination information for each facility used, and registers the acquired usage fee information in the fee storage means which stores usage fee information for each facility used, type of equipment used (room type, venue, seating, etc.), and usage date (or usage time period). The method for receiving requests for desired conditions includes receiving information on the desired conditions of the user regarding the type of facility and equipment (room type, venue, seating, etc.) to be used and the date (or time of use), information on the desired usage fee, and the contact information of the user. The determination means determines whether the usage fee information specified by the desired usage conditions information has fallen below the desired usage fee information due to a decrease in the usage fee information stored in the fee storage means, If the guidance means is determined to be below the required level by the determination means, the user is given a step of guiding them on how to make a reservation based on the contact information of the user, under the conditions specified in the desired usage conditions information. Information processing method comprising the steps of: a second guidance means allowing the person in charge of the facility to view the desired usage conditions information and the desired usage fee information based on an operation by the person in charge of the facility; and, based on the contact information of the prospective user requested by the person in charge, guiding the prospective user requested by the person in charge on how to make a reservation for use under the conditions specified in the desired usage conditions information.

3. An information processing program for causing a computer to perform the method described in claim 2.

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