Matching system, matching method, and computer program

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel technology that can match a user with other suitable users and allow the user to contact the other users.　A matching system according to the present invention comprises: a reception unit that receives pieces of user information including gender from two or more users including a first user; a matching unit that performs a matching process on the basis of pieces of user information of the first user and other users to identify other users suitable for the first user; and a display unit that displays a list of other users suitable for the first user on the basis of the matching result from the matching unit, wherein the matching process is restricted on the basis of the gender of the first user and the other users so that a one-to-one match between a man and a woman is not made, and the reception unit receives a designation of a user who is to be contacted and is selected from the list of the other users.

Description

Matching system, matching method, and computer program

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

[0002] Conventionally, systems have been used to match men and women, or to match users with each other when sharing a taxi or other vehicle, and to create suitable pairs.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a ride-sharing management device that manages a travel plan for sharing a ride-sharing vehicle with other users.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-149536

[0005] On the other hand, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is a system for managing travel plans for users to share rides, taking into account the destination, and does not disclose a system for users to match and contact users who are suitable for 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.

[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 the user information of the first user and 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 of the matching unit, wherein the matching process is limited to not being a one-to-one male-female match based on the gender of the first user and the other users, and the reception unit receives designation of a user to contact, selected from the list of other users. [2] The matching system described in [1], wherein the reception unit further receives companion information including the number and gender of accompanying persons, and the matching unit further performs matching based on the companion 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 their accompanying persons. [3] The matching system described in [2], wherein 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 so that the number of women included in the group is equal to or greater than the number of men. [4] The matching system described in [2], wherein the display unit displays a list of other users suitable for the first user, including the gender of the user and accompanying persons, based on the matching result. [5] The matching system described in any of [1] to [4], wherein the users include service-using users and service-providing users, the first users are service-using users, the service usage information of the service-using users includes visited location information, and the service provision information of the service-providing users includes available location information, and the matching unit, as the matching process, further performs a process of identifying service-providing users who can provide services at locations visited by the service-using user, based on the service usage information and the service provision information.[6] The matching system according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein users include service-using users and service-providing users, the first user is a service-using user, the service usage information of the service-using user includes usage date and time information, and the service provision information of the service-providing user includes available date and time information, and the matching unit, as the matching process, further performs a process of identifying a service-providing user who is available at the date and time of use by the service-using user, based on the service usage information and the service provision information. [7] A matching method executed by a computer, comprising: a receiving step of receiving user information including gender from two or more users including a first user; a matching step of performing a matching process based on user information of the first user and the other users, and identifying other users who are suitable for the first user; a display step of displaying a list of other users who are suitable for the first user based on the matching result of the matching unit; and a receiving step of receiving designation of a user to contact, selected from the list of other users, and wherein the matching process is limited to avoid one male-female pairing based on the gender of the first user and the other users. A computer program that causes the computer to execute the matching method described in [7].

[0008] According to the invention of [1], a user can be matched with other users who are suitable for that user, and further contact can be made with those users.

[0009] According to the invention related to [2], matching can be performed taking into consideration even the user's companions.

[0010] The invention according to [3] takes into consideration the number of people and genders in a group, making it possible to provide a safe match even for women.

[0011] According to the invention related to [4], the user's gender and accompanying person are displayed, and the user can select a user to contact while checking the accompanying person.

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

[0013] According to the invention of [6], a user who uses a service is matched with a user who can provide the service on the date and time that the user desires, and can easily receive the service.

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

[0015] A block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment. A hardware configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment. A diagram showing an image of matching according to an embodiment. A flowchart showing the processing flow according to an embodiment. An example of a screen display according to an embodiment. An example of a screen display according to an embodiment.

[0016] The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments are shown, but which may be embodied in many different forms and are 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 local people (service providing users) with whom they can share meals or tea at their travel destination, and has a meal or tea with the matched person at the local location. In this embodiment, the service user meets the matched service providing user who lives near the travel destination during the trip, and they share a meal or tea. 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 user.

[0019] The provision or use of such services requires users to meet other users they have never met before. However, for users who have a partner, one-on-one encounters with members of the opposite sex are undesirable. Furthermore, for female users, meeting a large number of male users for the first time can be unsafe and undesirable. In response to such circumstances, this embodiment provides a matching system that restricts one-on-one male-female matching and performs matching that takes into account the gender of the user and their companions, allowing users to feel safe even when meeting other users they have never met before. In this embodiment, since users share meals or tea with other matched users, the matching system may be configured to search for other users with similar hobbies and interests, such as other users who want to eat the same food or go to the same places, based on the food they want to eat, places they want to go, etc. 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] Furthermore, a companion is a person who accompanies a service user or a service providing user. The companion is a person who has some kind of relationship with the service user or service providing user, such as the service user's or service providing user's partner, friend, or family member, and accompanies the user when using or providing a service. In this embodiment, the companion is not registered as a user of the matching system, but the companion may be registered as a user, and user information about the companion may be used in the matching process described below.

[0022] In this embodiment, the matching system performs matching between service users and service provider users for the provision of services, but the matching 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 one 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 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] Terminal devices 20 such as personal computers, smartphones, tablet terminals, etc. can be used as the service-using user terminal 2 and the service-providing user terminal 3. The service-using user terminal 2 and the service-providing user terminal 3 connect to the matching device 1 by executing a matching device usage program, and execute the matching-related processing described below. The matching device usage program may be a browser application pre-installed or downloaded in advance to the terminal device 20, or may be 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 restrictions on the type of communication protocol or the type of network.

[0027] <Hardware Configuration> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the matching device 1 and the terminal devices 20 (service utilizing user terminal 2, 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, etc. The storage unit 102 has 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 the OS, the matching program, etc. The communication unit 103 has an interface for connecting to the network 4, and controls communication with the network 4 to input and output information.

[0030] 2(b) is a hardware configuration diagram of the terminal device 20 (service utilizing 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 storage unit 202 has 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 application program (such as a matching device utilization program) that can use the OS and multiple services including the matching service. The communication unit 203 has an interface for connecting to the network 4 and controls communication with the network 4 to input and output information. The input unit 204 has input devices such as an operation input device capable of input processing, such as a touch panel or keyboard. The output unit 205 has an output device such as a display device capable of display processing, such as a display.

[0032] <Data Structure in Matching System 0> An example of the data structure used in the matching system 0 of this embodiment will be described below. In this embodiment, various data described below are stored in the storage unit 102 of the matching device 1, but may also be stored in another terminal device 20 or 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 below. In this embodiment, the user information includes the user's identification information (user ID), user name, gender, age, contact information (e.g., email address, telephone number), address (city of residence), languages ​​fluently spoken, languages ​​currently being studied, user image (photo of the user's face), bank transfer information, and payment method information. Note that in this embodiment, the user information of the service using user and the service providing user includes information related to similar items. However, the user information of the service providing user may include bank transfer information such as account information, while the user information of the service using user may include payment method information such as credit card information. In this embodiment, the user information is registered in advance through user registration, but may also be registered during matching, application for service use, or the like. Furthermore, some of the user information may be registered at different times, such as when part of the user information is registered during user registration and the other part is registered during application for the service.

[0034] The companion information is information about companions who accompany users of the system, including service user users and service provider users, when providing a service. 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. In this embodiment, the service user can be accompanied by three companions and the service provider 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 user's use of the service, 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 wishes to visit and receive the service, and usage date and time information related to the date and time when the service user wishes to receive the service. The visited location information is information related to the location where the service user wishes to visit and receive the service, and in this embodiment, includes the name of the city. Note that the visited location information may be location information on a map, an address, an area name, etc. The usage date and time information is information related to the date and time when the service user wishes to use the service. Note that 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 related to the provision of services by the service provider and is used in the matching process described below. In this embodiment, the service provision information includes available location information related to locations where the service provider can provide the service, available date and time information related to dates and times when the service can be provided, and a service usage fee. The available location information is information related to locations where the service provider user can provide the service and includes city names in this embodiment. The available location information may be location information on a map, an address, an area name, or the like. The available date and time is information related to dates and times when the service provider 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 provider user to use the service and, in this embodiment, is an amount registered by the service provider user plus a handling fee, but may also be an amount set by the system administrator.

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

[0038] Furthermore, the storage unit 102 may store condition information relating 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 in the matching process. In this case, the condition information is managed in association with user information using identification information such as a user ID, and is used in the matching as information about 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 some or all of the functional configuration described below and execute some or all of the processing described below. In this case, the terminal device 20 stores some or all of the matching program in the storage unit 202 and executes it in the processing unit 201.

[0040] <Reception Unit 11> The reception unit 11 performs processing to receive various data from the terminal device 20, which includes the service utilizing user terminal 2 and the service providing user terminal 3. In this embodiment, the reception unit 11 receives user information, companion information, and service utilization information of the service utilizing user from the service utilizing user terminal 2, and stores the information in the storage unit 102. In this embodiment, the reception unit 11 also receives user information, companion information, and service provision information of the service provider from the service providing user terminal 3, and stores the information in the storage unit 102. The reception unit 11 may store the information received from the terminal device 20 in the storage unit 102, or may pass the acquired data to other functional components for executing processing, such as matching processing, which will be described later.

[0041] The reception unit 11 also performs processing for receiving input operations made by the user via the screen display. In this embodiment, the reception unit 11 receives, from the service 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 Unit 12> The matching unit 12 performs a matching process based on various information received from the user, including user information, companion information, service usage information, and service provision information, and identifies other users (service providing users in this embodiment) that are suitable for the first user (the target service using user in this embodiment). Note that in this embodiment, the matching process is performed by combining multiple conditions to identify other suitable users, but the matching process may also be performed using a single condition, such as gender alone.

[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 their companion. To ensure a safe match for the user, if the service user is female and has no companion, the matching process identifies other users suitable for the service user so that the service user and the service provider user are not matched one-to-one with each other of the opposite sex (male and female). This configuration allows this embodiment to safely use the service even for people who have a partner or who do not want to be matched with the opposite sex. Users certified as safe by the service provider (certified users) may be determined to be suitable for users of any gender, as an exception to the gender restriction.

[0044] Furthermore, the matching unit 12 performs matching based on not only user information but also companion information, taking into account the gender and the number of people of each gender in a group made up of users (service user, service providing user) and their companions. Here, the group made up of a user and their companions refers to a group of people who are expected to gather when the target users meet, including both matched users and their companions. In this embodiment, this group includes the service user, the service providing user, the service user's companion, and the service providing user's companion. Furthermore, in the matching description described below, the term "group" refers to a group made up of this user and his / her companion. In order to ensure safe matching for women, in this embodiment, when the number of people in a group made up of a user and his / her companions is three or more (when the users are not both accompanied by a companion), the matching unit 12 performs matching so that the number of women in the group is greater than or equal to the number of men. In order to ensure reliable matching even when one user and their companions are of the same gender and one user's gender is biased (particularly when one user and their companions are all female), in this embodiment, if there is only one user or if the user and their companions are of the same gender, matching is performed so that the number of women is equal to or greater than the number of men, or so that the users and their companions in the group are of the same gender. Also, in this embodiment, if a user has a companion of the opposite gender (for example, a female user and a male companion), the user may be matched with another user (for example, a male user and a male companion) in which the number of men in the group made up of the user and their companions is greater than the number of women, but even if 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 made up of the user and their companions.

[0045] Matching using the gender of a user and their companions will be described below with reference to FIG. 3. User A is a female user without a companion, and the matching process for identifying a user suitable for this 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). In this case, since user A and user B are of the opposite sex, user B is determined to be an unsuitable user for user A. Furthermore, since the group consisting of user A, user C, and their companions includes user A (female), user C (male), and companion C1 (male), and the number of men in the group is greater than the number of women, user C is determined to be an unsuitable user for user A. Since the group consisting of user A, user D, and their companions is a group consisting of only women, user D is identified as a suitable user for user A. A group of users A and C and their accompanying persons includes users A (female), E (female), and E1 (male), and the number of women in the group is greater than or equal to the number of men, so user E is determined to be a user suitable for user A. Therefore, in the matching process, the matching unit 12 identifies users D and E, whose groups of users and accompanying persons are all of the same gender or have a greater number of women than 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 the matching process of identifying a service providing user who can assist the service user at 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 using 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 providing 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 group of the user and accompanying persons, the location of service use, and the date and time of service use, as described above.However, the matching process may also involve identifying suitable users using some of the information described above.

[0049] <Display unit 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 who are 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 service fees paid by service users to service providing users. The payment processing unit 14 performs settlement processing when a service user pays a service fee based on payment method information included in the user information of the service user. In this embodiment, this settlement processing is processing related to credit card settlement, but it may also be processing related to point payment or other payment methods. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the payment processing unit 14 performs transfer processing related to the payment of service fees paid from the service user to another service user based on the service usage amount included in the service provision information. In this embodiment, the payment processing unit 14 performs processing as transfer processing to assist the service manager in the transfer procedure, such as outputting information necessary for transfer, such as transfer destination information and transfer amount. However, similar to the payment processing, processing related to credit card settlement or depositing fees into an account may also be performed as transfer processing. At this time, the payment processing unit 14 may execute the 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 as the transfer process, or may execute the process of granting points corresponding to the predetermined amount to the service providing user as the transfer process.

[0051] <Processing Flow> The processing flow relating to matching and service applications by service users 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 accept input of information to be used in the matching process, including user information. The reception unit 11 accepts the user information, companion information, and service provision information of the service providing user from the service providing user terminal 3 and stores them in the memory unit 102 (S101). When the reception unit 11 accepts the user information, companion 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, companion information, and service provision information of the service providing user stored in the memory unit 102, and the user information, companion 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 of 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, designation of a service providing user to be contacted, selected from the service providing users displayed in the service providing user list (S105).

[0054] <Example of Screen Display> 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 an input reception screen W1 on which a service user accepts various information used in the matching process, including user information, companion information, and service usage information. The input reception screen W1 shown in FIG. 5 includes input buttons for the address, number of users, gender, and city to visit, as well as a confirm button. For example, pressing a rectangular input button labeled "Please set" for the city of residence transitions to an input screen for entering the city of residence. Pressing a rectangular input button for each item transitions to an input screen for entering information related to the respective item. Note that pressing an input button may also display an input field for entering information related to the target item. In this embodiment, the input button is configured to transition to an input screen for entering information related to any of the items included in the user information, companion information, and service usage information. After information is entered in each item, pressing the confirm button causes the matching process to be 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 the matching result. The display unit 13 displays the list display screen W2 as shown in FIG. 6 based on the matching result, user information, companion information, service usage 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 that displays the conditions used for matching. The condition display section W21 shown in FIG. 6 displays, as the conditions used for matching, the number of companions for the service using user and the cities to be visited. In this embodiment, the condition display section W21 also displays the city in which 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 for each identified service providing user. The user information display section W221 is a screen display for displaying user information and companion information for each user (service providing user), and displays a round user image, the user name, and the number and gender of the user and companions. In this embodiment, the number and gender of the user and companions are indicated by the number and color of icons displayed to the right of the user name, but the number and gender of the user and companions may be indicated by other displays. In this embodiment, a user to be contacted is selected by pressing the user information display section W221 included in the service providing user list W22. 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 by displaying the round user image as a rectangle.

[0057] The list display screen shown in FIG. 6 also displays the number of service providing users identified as suitable users for the target service user through the matching process. Pressing the rectangular sort button including an arrow transitions to a sort setting screen for inputting sorting settings, and pressing the rectangular search button including a magnifying glass transitions to a condition input screen for adding additional conditions for matching. In this embodiment, the condition input screen accepts input of the date and time of use, service usage fee, gender, number of people, age, and spoken languages, and the matching process can be performed again by adding the accepted conditions. Furthermore, the matching unit 12 may execute a process of identifying service providing users selected by the service user and meeting the added conditions from among other users (service providing users) suitable for the target service user identified through the matching process. At this time, the display unit 13 displays a list of other users (service providing users) meeting the 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 details screen is displayed, allowing the user to contact the specified service providing user and apply for a service. The service providing user details screen displays user information, including the user's name, country and city of residence (address), gender, age group, and languages ​​spoken, companion information, including the companion's gender, and service usage fee. The service providing user details screen also includes input fields for accepting application information, including the language used for communication, available meeting dates and times, and available meeting areas, and accepts applications for service use from service users. The reception unit 11 accepts the application information received from the service using user terminal 2 and stores the user information of the applying service using user and the user information of the requested service providing user 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 that a service application has been made, to the service providing user terminal 3 based on application information received from the service using user. In this case, the service application notification may include user information of the service using user who has applied, in addition to the application information.

[0060] In this embodiment, messages are exchanged between a service user who has applied for a service and a service providing user who has received the application. In this embodiment, the matching device 1 further includes a message management unit that manages messages between the service using user and the service providing user. The message management unit stores message information regarding various messages received from the terminal devices 20 of users, including the service using 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 source of the message. To exchange messages between the user who has applied for use of the service and the user who has received the application, 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 on the terminal device 20 that displays the message based on the message information. The message management unit may also permit message exchange between the service using user and the service providing user only during a predetermined period, such as the period from application for the service to completion of use of the service based on the available meeting date and time included in the application information, and prohibit message exchange during other periods. The date and time of completion of service use may be either the date and time input by the service using user or the service providing user, or the time when both users apply to complete service use.

[0061] Furthermore, when a service user applies for a service, the payment processing unit 14 performs processing related to payment of the service usage fee. In this embodiment, the settlement processing related to 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 accepts application information and payment method information, the payment processing unit 14 performs settlement processing related to payment of the usage fee from the service user based on the accepted payment method information. In this embodiment, when the completion of service use is determined, the payment processing unit 14 executes a transfer processing to assist the system administrator in the transfer operation, such as outputting information necessary for the transfer, such as displaying transfer destination information and a list of the amount to be paid to the service providing user. Furthermore, after the service use is completed, when the reception unit 11 accepts applications for completion of 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, the payment processing unit 14 may perform a transfer processing based on the transfer destination information of the service providing user. The completion of service use may be determined based solely on an application from the service provider, or may be determined when a specific period (e.g., three days) has passed since the meeting date without any complaints 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 screen transitions to the input reception screen W1, when the Message button, which is a speech bubble icon, is pressed, the screen transitions to the Message screen, when the My Page button, which is a human icon, is pressed, the screen transitions to the My Page screen, and when the Settings button, which is a gear icon, is pressed, the screen transitions to the Settings screen.

[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 provider 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.

[0064] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 0 Matching system 1 Matching device 11 Reception unit 12 Matching unit 13 Display unit 14 Payment processing unit 2 Service utilizing 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; a matching unit that performs a matching process based on the user information of the first user and other users, and identifies other users who are suitable for the first user; and a display unit that displays a list of other users who are suitable for the first user, based on the matching results of the matching unit; wherein the matching process is limited to not being a one-to-one male-female match, based on the genders of the first user and other users; and the reception unit receives designation of users to contact, selected from the list of other users.

2. The matching system described in claim 1, wherein the reception unit further receives companion information including the number and gender of companions, and the matching unit further performs matching based on the companion information, and as the matching process, performs a process of identifying other users suitable for the first user based on the number and gender of a group including the first user, other users, and their companions.

3. The matching system of claim 2, wherein the matching process includes a process of identifying other users suitable for the first user so that, when the number of people in the group is three or more, the number of women in the group is greater than or equal to the number of men.

4. The matching system according to claim 2, wherein the display unit displays a list of other users suitable for the first user, including the gender of the user and accompanying persons, based on the matching result.

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

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

7. A matching method executed by a computer, comprising: a receiving step of receiving user information, including gender, from two or more users, including a first user; a matching step of performing a matching process based on the user information of the first user and other users, and identifying other users suitable for the first user; and a display step of displaying a list of other users suitable for the first user based on the matching results of the matching step, wherein the matching process is limited to avoid a one-to-one male-female match, based on the genders of the first user and other users, and the receiving step receives designation of a user to contact, selected from the list of other users.

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

Images