JP7503340B1 - Needs matching support system - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] A needs matching support system that can meet the needs of multiple people to the maximum extent possible by enabling matching of the user's own skills as well, relating to technology for needs matching. [Solution] The system includes an information input means for inputting desired event information about an event that can meet the user's needs, provided skill information about skills that the user can provide, and event requirement information that is the minimum requirement for executing the event, an information storage means for storing the desired event information, provided skill information, and event requirement information input by the information input means, and a matching means for matching the desired event information, provided skill information, and event requirement information stored in the information storage means in order to execute the event. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a technology that matches the various needs of multiple people.

For example, with regard to needs related to events, there is a known technology that matches events by exchanging information on holding and participating in events over the Internet (for example, the technology described in Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Patent No. 6744650 JP 2013-175025 A

For example, user needs related to events include the need to participate in events and the need to host events. Furthermore, there is also a need for users who have skills such as lighting, audio, and playing musical instruments to participate as staff or organizers of events that are being held.
However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques have a problem in that they cannot meet the needs of users who wish to provide their own skills.

The present invention aims to realize a needs matching support system that can meet the needs of multiple people to the greatest extent possible by making it possible to match the users' own skills as well.

The needs matching support system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an information input means for inputting desired event information relating to an event that can satisfy the needs of a user, provided skill information relating to skills that the user can provide, event requirement information which is the minimum requirement for executing the event , and schedule information relating to the time that the user can use for the event ;
an information storage means for storing the desired event information, the providing skill information, the event requirement information, and the schedule information inputted by the information input means;
a matching means for matching the desired event information, the providing skill information, the event requirement information , and the schedule information stored in the information storage means in order to execute the event,
The provided skill information includes a remuneration amount for the provided skill,
The event requirement information includes a reward amount for each skill required for executing the event,
The matching means refers to the desired event information, the provided skill information, the event requirement information, and the schedule information, selects candidate locations and candidate dates and times at which the event can be held, estimates the expected remuneration amount for each user who provides the skill for each candidate location and candidate date and time, and determines whether the estimated remuneration amount is equal to or greater than the minimum guaranteed amount for the user who provides the skill .

According to the present invention, by making it possible to match not only the needs of users but also their skills, it is possible to realize a needs matching support system that can meet the needs of multiple people to the maximum extent possible.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a needs matching support system. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a needs matching process. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of needs matching.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the present embodiment) will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a needs matching support system 100 in the present embodiment.
In the present invention, an "event" refers to an activity involving multiple people to satisfy the needs of users, and is not limited to the general meaning of an event, such as an entertainment or rite of passage.
In addition, in the present invention, a "user" refers to a member who can use the needs matching support system 100 of this embodiment, and includes not only event participants but also various skill providers including event organizers, venue arrangers, etc.

The needs matching support system 100 according to this embodiment has a configuration in which a server device 101, a system administrator terminal 121, and a member terminal 131 are interconnected via a network 140 such as the Internet or a local area network.
Although not shown in the figure, the server device 101 is an information processing system equipped with an information processing device including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage device, a keyboard, an input device for voice and brain waves, an output device for outputting images, voice, tactile sensations, brain waves, and the like, and a communication device such as a wired or wireless network interface. A configuration that combines an input device such as a touch panel and an output device is also possible. The system administrator terminal 121 and the member terminal 131 are various terminals such as smartphone terminals and tablet terminals. In the example of FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity, three member terminals 131 (#A), 131 (#B), and 131 (#C) operated by three users #A, #B, and #C, respectively, are shown, but in reality, one or more member terminals 131 may be connected to the server device 101 and the system administrator terminal 121 via the network 140.

In FIG. 1, a system administrator terminal 121 includes a communication unit 122 for wireless communication with the Internet via an antenna 123, a display unit 124 for displaying information, such as a touch panel display, and an input unit 125 for inputting information.
The system administrator can use, for example, a system administrator terminal 121 to control the operation of a matching unit 102 of the server device 101, which will be described later.
The system administrator operates the input unit 125 of the system administrator terminal 121 to input, as administrator data, various categories of events and the minimum elements required to execute each event. For example, as the minimum elements for an event related to a baseball game, 18 players, 3 umpires, the required number of balls, bats, and gloves, a ground, and bases are input. The minimum elements required to execute each event are stored as event requirement information in the event requirement DB 105 of the server device 101. Users can view the event requirement information on their own member terminals 131 via the network 140.

In FIG. 1 , the member terminal 131 is equipped with a communication unit 132, an antenna 133, a display unit 134, and an input unit 135, which are similar to the communication unit 122, antenna 123, display unit 124, and input unit 125 in the system administrator terminal 121, and further includes a location information acquisition unit 136 that uses, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) to acquire current location information of the member terminal 131.
In addition to the general information input function of a mobile terminal, the input unit 135 also functions as an information input means for the user to input desired event information indicating the event in which the user would like to participate, providing skill information indicating information regarding the event skills that the user can provide, schedule information indicating the time the user is willing to spend on the event, desired participants, etc.
All of the components of the server device 101, system administrator terminal 121, and member terminal 131 shown in FIG. 1 are merely examples, and may be replaced with other components having similar functions.

The user operates the member terminal 131 to select one or more events in which the user wishes to participate from the event requirement information stored in the event requirement DB 105 of the server device 101. The selected events are stored as desired event information in the desired event information DB 113 of the server device 101. The user also inputs a budget of time and expenses that the user can use for each selected event. The input time and expense budget is stored as desired event information in the desired event information DB. Here, the "time and expense budget" refers to the time and expenses required for the user to travel to and from the event venue. In addition to that, the participation fee and number of hours to be used for various events can also be input.
If the event selected by the user as desired event information is carried out, the user's needs can be met.

The provided skills information is information about the types of skills that can be provided (e.g., organizer, venue arranger, sound and lighting operation, various lecturers, musical instrument player, emcee, etc.), the time and cost budget that can be used to provide the skills, and track record (e.g., "number of times I have acted as a lecturer," "I have arranged a venue," evaluations from participants, etc.).

In addition, the user can input various information in the input unit 135.

In FIG. 1, the server device 101 includes a communication unit 103 for wireless communication via the Internet or an internal block network and an antenna 104, as well as various DBs (databases) shown as 105 to 113 below, which function as information storage means, and a matching unit 102. Note that these various DBs may also be provided in the system administrator terminal 121 and the member terminal 131.

As described above, the event requirement DB 105 stores the event requirement information input by the system administrator operating the system administrator terminal 121.

The skill information DB 106 stores the provided skill information for each user input by each user. As described above, the provided skill information includes the type of skill that can be provided, the time and cost budget that can be used to provide the skill, past performance, minimum guaranteed remuneration, etc.

The member information DB 107 stores member information, which is personal information for each user, such as age, gender, and mode of transportation (e.g., ownership of bicycle or personal car) entered by each user.

The schedule DB 108 stores schedule information input by each member, which is the time that may be used for each event for each user. From the input unit 135 of the member terminal 131, the user inputs information such as "Probability ☆☆% that I will be near □□ from △ o'clock to x o'clock on XX/XX day" or "Probability ☆☆% that I will be near XX from △ o'clock to x o'clock on weekdays." Alternatively, the server device 101 can predict location information corresponding to the user's free time and schedule by tracing the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit 136 of the user's member terminal 131, and automatically input the schedule information. For example, the predicted time, location information, and the probability are such that the user is likely to be near the workplace before or after work hours, near the home on holidays and before or after bedtime, and near the parent's home or second home on long holidays.

The venue information DB 109 stores information about venues that can be used for various events, as well as the venue's available schedule, terms of use, facilities, capacity, cancellation fee deadline, etc. These may be automatically loaded from an external source. This information can be used by not only administrators but also members to add and register new venue methods, for example, providing the living room of one's home.

The desired participant DB 110 stores members who want to participate together or members who do not want to participate together by skill provision type. For example, a member may be present as a participant, but if the member is a lecturer, they may not want to participate, or they may particularly want to participate, and other desired information is registered.

The traffic information acquisition unit 111 covers all traffic information, including into the future, and enables route searches to a destination. Traffic information may also be imported from an external source.

Location information DB112 stores the current and predictable location information of each user.

The desired event information DB113 stores desired event information for each user, for example, input from the input section 135 of each of three member terminals 131 (#A), 131 (#B), and 131 (#C) operated by three users, #A, #B, and #C.

Next, the operation of the matching unit 102 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
2 is a flowchart showing an example of a needs matching process implemented by the matching unit 102. This process is implemented in the server device 101 as a process in which a processor (not shown) loads an event matching process program stored in a ROM or external storage device (not shown) into a main storage device such as a RAM and executes the program. As can be said for the entire present invention, this is merely one example and any alternative technology may be used.

In the flowchart of FIG. 2, first, the system administrator operates the input unit 125 of the system administrator terminal 121 of FIG. 1 to input administrator data, such as event requirements, the rate of remuneration for each skill required for execution, venue information, and traffic information (step S1 of FIG. 2).

On the other hand, as described above, the user inputs member user data in advance by operating the input unit 135 of the member terminal 131 in FIG. 1 (step S2 in FIG. 2).
For example, if member A wants to hold a dance event, he or she selects a dance event from the event requirement DB 105, and inputs the time and cost budget available for the dance event, the skills that he or she can provide (e.g., lighting settings), schedule information, etc. He or she also inputs the minimum remuneration for the skills that he or she can provide. He or she can also input desired attendees with whom he or she would like to hold the event and members that he or she does not want to attend. The user's location information may be acquired by the location information acquisition unit 136 of the member terminal 131 and input from the input unit 135, or the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit 136 may be constantly communicated to the server device 101 and input to the location information DB 112.
On the other hand, if member B wants to hold a music event, he or she similarly selects a music event from the event requirements DB 105 and inputs the time and cost budget available for the music event, the skills that he or she can provide (e.g., arranging a venue), schedule information, etc. In this manner, multiple members input various types of information.

Next, a processor (not shown) of the server device 101 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "processor") selects possible locations and potential dates and times for the event by referring to the member information DB 107, event requirements DB 105, skill information DB 106, desired event information DB 113, schedule DB 108, location information DB 112, venue information DB 109, etc. in FIG. 1, and tally up the expected number of participants for each potential location and potential date and time for the event (step S3 in FIG. 2).

Next, the processor determines whether the number of people counted in step S3 is equal to or greater than the number of people required to hold the event (step S4 in Figure 2).

If the determination in step S4 is NO, the processor changes the candidate event locations and candidate event dates and times and repeats the processing in steps S3 and S4 described above.

If the determination in step S4 is YES, the processor refers to the member information DB 107, event requirements DB 105, skill information DB 106, desired event information DB 113, desired member DB, etc. in Figure 1 to estimate the expected remuneration amount for each skill provider for each potential event location and potential event date and time (step S5 in Figure 2).

Next, the processor determines whether the reward amount is equal to or greater than the minimum guaranteed amount (step S6 in FIG. 2).

If the determination in step S6 is NO, the processor changes the candidate locations and candidate dates and times for the event to the extent that the conditions in step S4 are satisfied, and also changes the skill provider by referring to the skill information DB 106, and repeatedly executes the processes in steps S5 and S6 described above in various combinations.

If the determination in step S6 is YES, the processor sends a skill provision request message to a skill provider who can provide the skills required to execute the event indicated by the current event requirements (step S7 in Figure 2).

The user receives the skill provision request message or the like sent from the server device 101 in step S7 via an email application or the like on his/her member terminal 131 (step S8 in Figure 2).

The user replies by email or other means as a skill provision request response message indicating whether or not they can accept the skill provision request received in step S8 (step S9 in Figure 2).

The processor of the server device 101 determines whether the necessary skill providers for the current event have been recruited by judging the reply from the user in step S9 (step S10 in FIG. 2).

If the determination in step S10 is YES, the processor proceeds to processing in step S18.

If the determination in step S10 is NO, the processor sends a skill provision establishment request message to each user, asking whether or not skills can be provided beyond the scope of each user's provided skill information (step S11 in FIG. 2). Here, the user sending the skill provision establishment request message is a user whose limits on the range of skills that can be provided (time and cost budget, skill type, remuneration, etc.) are not yet at the level required for the current event, but who can provide the skills required for the current event if the range of various limits of what can be provided is slightly expanded.

The user receives the message email or the like requesting completion of skill provision sent from the server device 101 in step S11 via an email application or the like on his/her member terminal 131 (step S12 in FIG. 2).

The user replies by email or the like as a skill provision establishment request reply message indicating whether or not they can accept the skill provision establishment request received in step S12 (step S13 in Figure 2).

The processor of the server device 101 again determines whether the necessary skill providers for the current event have been recruited by judging the reply from the user in step S13 (step S14 in FIG. 2).

If the determination in step S14 is YES, the processor proceeds to processing in step S18.

If the determination in step S14 is NO, the processor determines whether the end time of the required skill recruitment period has arrived by calculating backwards from, for example, the timing of the venue cancellation fee incurred, which is stored in the venue information DB 109, and the time required to respond to the participant vote in the hypothetical event described below (step S15 in Figure 2).

If the determination in step S15 is NO, the processor returns to the process of step S11 and repeatedly executes the sending of the skill provision establishment request. The users sending the skill provision establishment request here are users who have not responded to the skill provision establishment request in the previous step S11, and users who can provide the skills required for the current event if the range of various limits that can be provided is expanded from the previous time in step S11.

When the determination in step S15 eventually becomes YES, the processor sends a skill provision failure notification message to the user who requested the skill provision, informing the user that the skill provision was not successful (step S16 in FIG. 2).

The user receives the message email or the like notifying the failure of skill provision sent from the server device 101 in step S16 by an email application or the like on the member terminal 131 (step S17 in FIG. 2). This informs the skill provider that the current event will not be held.

If it is determined in step S10 or S14 that the necessary skill providers have been recruited for the current event, and the determination in either step S10 or S14 is YES, the processor determines hypothetical events (indicated by A, B, C, etc. in step S18 of FIG. 2) for each combination of region, date and time, and skill provider among the conditions that are met for the current event, and sends a message calling on users to vote for participation in those hypothetical events (step S19 of FIG. 2). The server device 101 selects users who are expected to be interested in the event by referring to information stored in the member information DB 107, the desired event information DB 113, etc., to send a message calling on users to vote for participation in the hypothetical event.

The user receives the message email or the like for voting to participate in the provisional event sent from the server device 101 in step S19 via an email application or the like on the user's member terminal 131 (step S20 in FIG. 2).

The user replies to the provisional event participation vote received in step S20 by email or the like as a provisional event participation vote reply message indicating whether or not they wish to participate (step S21 in Figure 2).

The processor of the server device 101 adds the participation fee to the sales each time it receives a reply message to the provisional event participation vote from the user in step S21, and determines whether the total sales from the participation votes exceeds the expenses including the remuneration paid to the skill provider (step S22 in Figure 2).

If the determination in step S22 is YES, the processor proceeds to processing in step S29.

If the determination in step S22 is NO, the processor determines whether the increase in sales has reached the deadline required for incurring cancellation fees, announcements, and customer attraction (step S23 in Figure 2).

If the determination in step S23 is NO, the processor sends a message to the users requesting participation in the event, encouraging them to cooperate in making the event a reality (step S24 in FIG. 2). The users sending the message requesting participation in the event reality are users who have not responded in the provisional event participation vote reply S21, or users who could participate in the current event if the limits of the time and cost budget available for the event were expanded.

The user receives the successful participation request message email sent from the server device 101 in step S24 via an email application or the like on his/her member terminal 131 (step S25 in FIG. 2).

The user replies to the successful participation request received in step S25 by email or the like as a successful participation request reply message indicating whether or not the user will participate (step S26 in FIG. 2).
At this time, the provisional event information can be shared using this system or various SNS, etc., to encourage friends and acquaintances to participate.

The processor of the server device 101 judges the reply from the user in step S26, calculates the participation fee again each time it receives a successful participation request reply message from the user in step S26, and judges whether the total amount of sales from the participation votes is equal to or exceeds the expenses including the remuneration paid to the skill provider (step S22 in FIG. 2).

When the determination in step S22 is repeatedly NO and the determination in step S23 eventually becomes YES, the processor sends a virtual event non-establishment notification message to the user to notify the user that the virtual event was not established (step S27 in FIG. 2).

The participating users or the skill providing users of the virtual event receive the message email or the like notifying them of the failure of the virtual event, sent from the server device 101 in step S27, by an email application or the like on their member terminal 131 (step S28 in FIG. 2). This lets the users know that the virtual event will not be held.

When the determination in step S22 eventually becomes YES due to a reply from the member user in step S21 or S26, the processor decides to hold the provisional event as a real event, and sends a real event announcement message to the users informing them that the real event has been established (step S29 in FIG. 2). The matching unit 102 selects users who are interested in the event and are expected to have a high probability of participating by referring to information stored in the member information DB 107, desired participant DB 100, desired event information DB 113, schedule DB 108, location information DB 112, etc. to send the real event announcement message.

The user receives the message email announcing the event sent from the server device 101 in step S29 using an email application or the like on his/her member terminal 131 (step S30 in Figure 2).

In response to the event notification received in step S30, the user replies by email or the like as an event notification reply message indicating whether or not they will participate in the event (step S31 in FIG. 2). At this time, the user can share the event information using this system or various SNS, etc., to encourage friends and acquaintances to participate. In addition, a function may be added in which, when participation is confirmed, the participation fee is transferred to the system administrator or the event organizer in conjunction with a payment system.

The processor of the server device 101 judges whether the reception end time for the event that has been decided to be held has arrived by judging the reply from the user in step S31 (step S32 in FIG. 2). Since the arrival time at the venue varies depending on each member's current location information and traffic information, the reception end time can also be changed for each member.

If the determination in step S32 is NO, the processor determines whether the venue's set member capacity has been met for the event that has been decided to be held (step S33 in FIG. 2).

If the determination in step S33 is NO, the processor returns to the process in step S29 and repeats the process of sending this event announcement message to the relevant members at regular intervals (step S29 in FIG. 2). The target members refer to the user's location information, traffic information, schedule information, desired event information, desired member information, etc., to invite members who are likely to arrive at the venue before the end of registration to participate.

When registration is complete and the determination in step S32 is YES, or when the member capacity is reached and the determination in step S33 is YES, the processor sends a message indicating that registration for participation in the event has ended (step S34 in FIG. 2).

The user receives the message email or the like sent from the server device 101 in step S34 informing them that recruitment has ended, via an email application or the like on their member terminal 131 (step S35 in FIG. 2). This lets the user know that recruitment for the event has ended.

Through the process of FIG. 2, the achievements of each member can be accumulated in the skill information DB 106. Also, participation surveys of event participants can be accumulated in the DB.

It is also possible to link with the payment system and pay rewards for the achievement of completing an event (skill provision, participant recruitment).

When a cancellation occurs, the administrator or organizer skill provider can use this system to send an urgent request for skill provision to the relevant person on behalf of the system administrator, send a cancellation message to the relevant member, and can also add a function to process refunds of participation fees in conjunction with the payment system.

In the above embodiment, the user can obtain current location information by using the location information obtaining unit 136 of the member terminal 131 in Fig. 1 that the user operates, and transmit the information to the server device 101. The processor of the server device 101 can store the location information in the location information DB 112, and matching of the current and future predicted schedule information and predicted location information can be performed based on the user's location at any given time.
In the above embodiment, the order of the processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 may be partially changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, each of the DBs 105 to 113 in FIG. 1 and the matching unit 102 are implemented in the same server device 101, but each DB and the matching unit 102 may be implemented in a different dedicated server device that can communicate with each other. Also, each DB may be implemented in the administrator terminal 121 and each member terminal 131.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of needs matching realized by the process of Fig. 2. According to this embodiment, in a case where there are member users A to E, each of them registers the provided skill information, location information, schedule information, etc., and the participation range, skill provision range, and time and cost range available for the event for each member user are determined. In Fig. 3, the participation range, skill provision range, and time and cost range available for the event for each member user are represented by circles. When a certain event is about to be held, for example, in the area where the circles in Fig. 3 overlap, each member user can participate in the event by providing skills, thereby realizing needs matching that can meet the needs of multiple people to the maximum extent possible.
In Fig. 3, the skill provision range and the range of time and cost available for the event for each member user are represented by a circle, but in reality, the shape is different from a circle. In reality, the location information, transportation costs available for the event, time, schedule, and available transportation means for each member are various, so the skill provision range and the range of time and cost available for the event for each member will be distorted.

100 Needs matching support system 101 Server device 102 Matching unit 103, 122, 132 Communication unit 104, 123, 133 Antenna 105 Event requirement DB
106 Skill Information DB
107 Member information DB
108 Schedule DB
109 Venue information DB,
110 Participant Desired DB
111 Traffic information acquisition unit 112 Location information DB
113 Preferred event information DB
121 System administrator terminal 124, 134 Display unit 125, 135 Input unit 136 Location information acquisition unit 140 Network

Claims (4)

an information input means for inputting desired event information relating to an event that can satisfy the needs of a user, provided skill information relating to skills that the user can provide, event requirement information which is the minimum requirement for executing the event , and schedule information relating to the time that the user can use for the event ;
an information storage means for storing the desired event information, the providing skill information, the event requirement information, and the schedule information inputted by the information input means;
a matching means for matching the desired event information, the providing skill information, the event requirement information , and the schedule information stored in the information storage means in order to execute the event,
The provided skill information includes a remuneration amount for the provided skill,
The event requirement information includes a reward amount for each skill required for executing the event,
The matching means refers to the desired event information, the provided skill information, the event requirement information, and the schedule information, selects candidate locations and candidate dates and times at which the event can be held, estimates the expected remuneration amount for each user who provides the skills for each candidate location and candidate date and time, and determines whether the estimated remuneration amount is equal to or greater than the minimum guaranteed amount for the user who provides the skills. The information storage means further stores location information of the user;
The needs matching support system of claim 1, wherein the matching means matches the desired event information, the provided skill information, the event requirement information, the schedule information, and the user's location information stored in the information storage means. The needs matching support system of claim 1, wherein when the matching means matches the desired event information, the provided skill information, the event requirement information , and the schedule information stored in the information storage means and the skills required to carry out the event are not gathered, the matching means calls on other users to provide skills beyond the range of skills that the other users can provide. an information input means for inputting desired event information relating to an event that can satisfy the needs of a user, provided skill information relating to skills that the user can provide, and event requirement information which is the minimum requirement for carrying out the event;
an information storage means for storing the desired event information, the providing skill information, and the event requirement information inputted by the information input means;
a matching means for matching the desired event information, the providing skill information, and the event requirement information stored in the information storage means in order to execute the event,
The provided skill information includes a reward for the provided skill,
The desired event information includes a budget that the user can use for the event,
The matching means is a needs matching support system in which, when the total participation fee of those wishing to participate in the event falls below the expenses including the remuneration of each skill provider as a result of matching the desired event information, the provided skill information, and the event requirement information stored in the information storage means, the matching means calls on other users to participate in the event in excess of the expenses that the other users can use for the event.