WO2017055912A1

WO2017055912A1 - Server, control method for server, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program for server

Info

Publication number: WO2017055912A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/001456
Authority: WO
Inventors: Atsushi Yamada; Ryota Kimura
Original assignee: Gurunavi, Inc.
Priority date: 2015-09-28
Filing date: 2016-09-28
Publication date: 2017-04-06
Also published as: JP6719186B2; JP2017068348A

Abstract

A control method for a server includes: as service request information, containing a desired date and time and desired number of people of a user who receives a service, is received from a user terminal, transmitting the service request information to facility terminals of a plurality of facilities; as service providing information, containing information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time, is received from the corresponding facility terminal, making a tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal and transmitting the service providing information to the user terminal; and, when a predetermined period has elapsed and determination information for confirming the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal has not been received from the user terminal, cancelling the tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal.

Description

SERVER, CONTROL METHOD FOR SERVER, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING COMPUTER PROGRAM

FOR SERVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a server, a control method for a server, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for a server.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] Conventionally, an organizing user who holds an event searches for a service provider (for example, a restaurant, or the like) with the use of a personal computer, a mobile phone, or the like, which is connectable with the Internet, or the like, specifies a date and time and service contents, and makes a reservation for predetermined service.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-99095 (JP 2012-099095 A) describes a party reservation support system that receives party requirements from user terminals, that searches for a party requirement that satisfies a condition of a shop, and that transmits the found party requirement to a shop terminal of the shop. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The party reservation support system described in JP 2012-099095 A may receive a proposed party condition, of which the number of seats exceeds the capacity of seats of a shop, from a shop terminal and informs a user terminal of the received proposed party condition without keeping seats of the shop. In this case, if a user makes a reservation for the number of seats, which exceeds the capacity of the shop, the shop may not be able to keep reserved seats.

[0005] On the other hand, if the system receives a proposed party condition from the shop terminal after keeping seats of the shop, the system needs to keep the seats of the shop for a long time for a user although it is not clear whether the user comes to the shop. For this reason, while the seats of the shop are kept, another user is not allowed to make a reservation for the seats, so an opportunity loss may arise at the shop.

[0006] The invention provides a server that is able to provide a system that allows a shop not to unnecessarily keep seats and that allows a user to reliably keep seats.

[0007] A first aspect of the invention provides a control method for a server.

The control method includes: as service request information, containing a desired date and time and desired number of people of a user who receives a service, is received from a user terminal, transmitting the service request information to facility terminals of a plurality of facilities; as service providing information, containing information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time, is received from the corresponding facility terminal, making a tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal and transmitting the service providing information to the user terminal; and, when a predetermined period has elapsed and determination information for confirming the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal has not been received from the user terminal, cancelling the tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal. With this configuration, when the predetermined period has elapsed, the server cancels the tentative reservation for the facility, so the storage area of the server is not consumed more than necessary.

[0008] A second aspect of the invention provides a server. The server includes: a transmission unit that, as service request information, containing a desired date and time and desired number of people of a user who receives a service, is received from a user terminal, transmits the service request information to facility terminals of a plurality of facilities; a tentative reservation unit that, as service providing information, containing information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time, is received from the corresponding facility terminal, makes a tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal and transmits the service providing information to the user terminal; and a cancellation unit that, when a predetermined period has elapsed and determination information for confirming the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal has not been received from the user terminal, cancels the tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal. With this configuration, when the predetermined period has elapsed, the server cancels the tentative reservation for the facility, so the storage area of the server is not consumed more than necessary.

[0009] A third aspect of the invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for a server. The control program causes the server to execute instructions for: as service request information, containing a desired date and time and desired number of people of a user who receives a service, is received from a user terminal, transmitting the service request information to facility terminals of a plurality of facilities; as service providing information, containing information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time, is received from the corresponding facility terminal, making a tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal and transmitting the service providing information to the user terminal; and, when a predetermined period has elapsed and determination information for confirming the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal has not been received from the user terminal, cancelling the tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal. With this configuration, when the predetermined period has elapsed, the server cancels the tentative reservation for the facility, so the storage area of the server is not consumed more than necessary.

[0010] With the server, the control method for the server and the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the control program for the server, a shop does not need to unnecessarily keep seats, and the user is allowed to reliably keep seats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

FIG 1 is a schematic view for illustrating the outline of a matching system;

FIG 2 is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of the matching system; FIG 3 is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of a user terminal;

FIG 4A is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of a facility terminal;

FIG 4B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a terminal tentative reservation management table;

FIG 5 is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of a server; FIG 6A is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a user management table;

FIG 6B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a facility management table;

FIG 7A is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a service request management table;

FIG 7B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a proposal management table;

FIG 8A is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a reservation status management table;

FIG 8B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of a tentative reservation management table;

FIG 9 is a view that shows an example of an operation sequence of the matching system;

FIG 10 is a view that shows an example of a page that is displayed on the user terminal;

FIG 11 A to FIG 11C are views that show examples of pages that are displayed on the facility terminal; and

FIG 12A to FIG 12C are views that show examples of pages that are displayed on the user terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0012] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the technical scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments and encompasses the invention recited in the appended clams and equivalents thereof.

[0013] FIG 1 is a schematic view for illustrating a matching system 1.

[0014] The matching system 1 includes a user terminal 2, a plurality of facility terminals 3, a server 4, and the like. The server 4 stores a tentative reservation management table for registering tentative reservation information. In FIG 1, for the sake of convenience, only one facility terminal 3 is shown.

[0015] As an organizing user inputs, into the user terminal 2, service request information regarding a service that the organizing user desires to be provided, including a desired date and time, the desired number of people, and the like, the user terminal 2 transmits the input service request information to the server 4 (1). The organizing user is a person in charge of holding an event that a plurality of users attend. The organizing user may be a user who has become a candidate for the organizing user or may be a user selected freely. The event means an entertainment or event that is held at a facility. The event is, for example, a company trip, a New Year party, a year-end party, a barbecue, a banquet, a social gathering, a class reunion, a golf competition, or the like.

[0016] As the server 4 receives service request information from the user terminal 2, the server 4 transmits the received service request information to the plurality of facility terminals 3 (2).

[0017] As each facility terminal 3 receives the service request information from the server 4, each facility terminal 3 displays the service request information for a manager of the corresponding facility. As the manager of any one of the facilities inputs service providing information into the facility terminal 3, the facility terminal 3 transmits the input service providing information to the server 4 (3). The service providing information contains information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time, contained in the service request information, and other supplementary information. [0018] As the server 4 receives the service providing information from any one of the facility terminals 3, the server 4 registers data in the tentative reservation management table on the assumption that a tentative reservation has been made for only the desired date and time, desired number of people, and the like, at the corresponding facility (4). In addition, the server 4 transmits, to the user terminal 2, information that the tentative reservation has been made, and the service providing information received from the facility terminal 3 (5). The tentative reservation means that a reservation for a facility is ensured.

[0019] When a predetermined period has elapsed or when the server 4 has received determination information for confirming a reservation for another facility from the user terminal 2, the server 4 cancels the tentative reservation for the tentatively reserved facility (6). The determination information is information for determining a facility for which the reservation is confirmed. Confirming the reservation means fixing the reservation for the facility. In addition, the server 4 transmits a tentative reservation cancellation notification to the facility terminal 3 of the tentatively reserved facility (7). The tentative reservation cancellation notification is information for providing a notification that the tentative reservation is cancelled.

[0020] As described above, when the reservation for the facility is not confirmed even when the predetermined period has elapsed, the matching system 1 provides a notification for cancelling the tentative reservation to the facility terminal 3 of the facility, so the facility does not need to keep the facility for tentative reservation for an extended period of time. On the other hand, the user is allowed to make a tentative reservation for a plurality of desired facilities or a single desired facility for the predetermined period, so the user is allowed to easily fix a reservation for a facility by confirming the reservation during then. FIG 1 illustrates only the outline of the matching system 1. The details of the matching system 1 will be described later.

[0021] FIG 2 is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of the matching system 1.

[0022] The matching system 1 includes the user terminal 2, the facility terminal 3, the server 4, and the like. The user terminal 2 and the server 4 are connected to each other via an access point (not shown) or a base station (not shown) and a communication network 5. The communication network 5 is, for example, the Internet. A program that is executed by the user terminal 2 and a program that is executed by the server 4 carry out communication with each other by using a communication protocol, such as a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The facility terminal 3 and the server 4 are connected to each other via a communication network, and are, for example, connected to each other via the Internet. A program that is executed by the facility terminal 3 and a program that is executed by the server 4 carry out communication with each other by using a communication protocol, such as a hypertext transfer protocol. A plurality of the facility terminals 3 may be provided.

[0023] FIG 3 is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of the user terminal 2.

[0024] The user terminal 2 includes a user terminal communication unit 21, a user terminal storage unit 22, a user terminal operation unit 23, a user terminal display unit 24, a user terminal processing unit 25, and the like. The organizing user is a person in charge of holding an event that a plurality of users attend. The organizing user may be a user who has become a candidate for the organizing user or may be a user selected freely. The event means an entertainment or event that is held at a facility. The event is, for example, a company trip, a New Year party, a year-end party, a barbecue, a banquet, a social gathering, a class reunion, a golf competition, or the like. A multifunctional mobile phone (so-called smartphone) is assumed as the user terminal 2; however, the user terminal 2 is not limited to the multifunctional mobile phone. The user terminal 2 may be, for example, a mobile phone (so-called feature phone), a mobile information terminal (personal digital assistant (PDA)), a tablet PC, a personal computer, or the like.

[0025] The user terminal communication unit 21 includes a communication interface circuit including an antenna having mainly a 2.4GHz band, a 5GHz band, or the like, or an antenna having mainly a 2.1GHz band as a sensitive band. The user terminal communication unit 21 connects the user terminal 2 to the communication network 5 via an access point or a base station. The user terminal communication unit 21 transmits, to the server 4, or the like, data supplied from the user terminal processing unit 25. The user terminal communication unit 21 supplies, to the user terminal processing unit 25, data received from the server 4, or the like.

[0026] The user terminal storage unit 22 includes, for example, at least any one of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk drive and an optical disk drive. The user terminal storage unit 22 stores an operating system program, a driver program, an application program, data, and the like, that are used for processing in the user terminal processing unit 25. Each of the programs may be installed from a computer-readable portable storage medium, such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM, into the user terminal storage unit 22 with the use of a known setup program, or the like. For example, the user terminal storage unit 22 stores an input device driver program that controls the user terminal operation unit 23, an output device driver program that controls the user terminal display unit 24, and the like, as the driver program. The user terminal storage unit 22 stores a program, or the like, that executes transmission and reception of a message, as the application program. The user terminal storage unit 22 stores transmitted and received messages and associated data as the data. Furthermore, the user terminal storage unit 22 may temporarily store temporary data associated with predetermined processing.

[0027] The user terminal operation unit 23 may be any device as long as the user terminal 2 is operable by using the user terminal operation unit 23, and is, for example, a touch pad, or the like. The organizing user is allowed to input characters, numerics, and the like, with the use of the user terminal operation unit 23. As the user terminal operation unit 23 is operated by the organizing user, the user terminal operation unit 23 generates a signal corresponding to the operation. The generated signal is supplied to the user terminal processing unit 25 as a command of the organizing user.

[0028] The user terminal display unit 24 may be any device as long as the user terminal display unit 24 is able to display a character string, an image, and the like. The user terminal display unit 24 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display, or the like. The user terminal display unit 24 displays a transmitted or received message, or the like, supplied from the user terminal processing unit 25.

[0029] The user terminal processing unit 25 includes a user terminal access unit 251, a user terminal message management unit 252, and the like. The user terminal processing unit 25 is to generally control the overall operations of the user terminal 2. The user terminal processing unit 25 consists of one or plurality of processors and their peripheral circuit (for example, central processing unit (CPU)). The user terminal processing unit 25 controls the operations of the user terminal communication unit 21, user terminal display unit 24, and the like, such that the programs stored in the user terminal storage unit 22 are executed in an appropriate procedure in response to, for example, operation of the user terminal operation unit 23. The user terminal processing unit 25 executes processing on the basis of the programs (the operating system program, the driver program, the application program, and the like) that are stored in the user terminal storage unit 22. The user terminal processing unit 25 is able to execute a plurality of programs (application programs, or the like) in parallel.

[0030] The user terminal access unit 251 and the user terminal message management unit 252 are functional modules that are implemented by programs that are executed by the processor(s) of the user terminal processing unit 25. Alternatively, the user terminal access unit 251 and the user terminal message management unit 252 may be implemented in the user terminal 2 as firmware.

[0031] The user terminal access unit 251 accesses the world wide web (web), and acquires and displays display data. That is, the user terminal access unit 251 transmits input, selection, or the like, regarding a facility to the server 4 via the user terminal communication unit 21 in response to a command from the organizing user. The user terminal access unit 251 receives display data for displaying processing results for input, selection, or the like, regarding the facility from the server 4 via the user terminal communication unit 21, and displays a page on the user terminal display unit 24 on the basis of the received display data.

[0032] The user terminal message management unit 252 transmits or receives a message to or from the server 4 via the user terminal communication unit 21. [0033] FIG 4A is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of the facility terminal 3.

[0034] The facility terminal 3 includes a facility terminal communication unit 31, a facility terminal storage unit 32, a facility terminal operation unit 33, a facility terminal display unit 34, a facility terminal processing unit 35, and the like. The facility terminal 3 is a terminal of a manager of a facility that provides a service. A personal computer is assumed as the facility terminal 3; however, the facility terminal 3 is not limited to the personal computer. The facility terminal 3 may be, for example, a multifunctional mobile phone, a mobile phone, a mobile information terminal, a tablet PC, or the like.

[0035] The facility terminal communication unit 31 mainly includes a wired communication interface circuit. The facility terminal communication unit 31 connects the facility terminal 3 to the communication network 5 via a wire, such as a LAN cable. The facility terminal communication unit 31 transmits data, supplied from the facility terminal processing unit 35, to the server 4, or the like. The facility terminal communication unit 31 supplies data, received from the server 4, or the like, to the facility terminal processing unit 35.

[0036] The facility terminal storage unit 32 includes, for example, at least any one of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk drive and an optical disk drive. The facility terminal storage unit 32 stores an operating system program, a driver program, an application program, data, and the like, that are used for processing in the facility terminal processing unit 35. Each of the programs may be installed from a computer-readable portable storage medium, such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM, into the facility terminal storage unit 32 with the use of a known setup program, or the like. For example, the facility terminal storage unit 32 stores an input device driver program that controls the facility terminal operation unit 33, an output device driver program that controls the facility terminal display unit 34, and the like, as the driver program. The facility terminal storage unit 32 stores a program, or the like, that executes transmission and reception of a message, as the application program. The server storage unit 42 stores a terminal tentative reservation management table (FIG 4B) as the data. The facility terminal storage unit 32 stores transmitted and received messages and associated data as the data. Furthermore, the facility terminal storage unit 32 may temporarily store temporary data associated with predetermined processing.

[0037] The facility terminal operation unit 33 may be any device as long as the facility terminal 3 is operable by using the facility terminal operation unit 33, and is, for example, a keyboard, or the like. The manager is allowed to input characters, numerics, and the like, with the use of the facility terminal operation unit 33. As the facility terminal operation unit 33 is operated by the manager, the facility terminal operation unit 33 generates a signal corresponding to the operation. The generated signal is supplied to the facility terminal processing unit 35 as a command of the manager.

[0038] The facility terminal display unit 34 may be any device as long as the facility terminal display unit 34 is able to display a character string, an image, and the like. The facility terminal display unit 34 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display, or the like. The facility terminal display unit 34 displays a transmitted or received message, or the like, supplied from the facility terminal processing unit 35.

[0039] The facility terminal processing unit 35 includes a facility terminal access unit 351, a facility terminal message management unit 352, and the like. The facility terminal processing unit 35 is to generally control the overall operations of the corresponding facility terminal 3. The facility terminal processing unit 35 consists of one or plurality of processors and their peripheral circuit (for example, central processing unit (CPU)). The facility terminal processing unit 35 controls the operations of the facility terminal communication unit 31, the facility terminal display unit 34, and the like, such that the programs stored in the facility terminal storage unit 32 are executed in an appropriate procedure in response to operation of the facility terminal operation unit 33, or the like. The facility terminal processing unit 35 executes processing on the basis of the programs (the operating system program, the driver program, the application program, and the like) that are stored in the facility terminal storage unit 32. The facility terminal processing unit 35 is able to execute a plurality of programs (application programs, or the like) in parallel.

[0040] The facility terminal access unit 351 and the facility terminal message management unit 352 are functional modules that are implemented by programs that are executed by the processor(s) of the facility terminal processing unit 35. Alternatively, the facility terminal access unit 351 and the facility terminal message management unit 352 may be implemented in each facility terminal 3 as firmware.

[0041] The facility terminal access unit 351 accesses the world wide web (web), and acquires and displays display data. That is, the facility terminal access unit 351 transmits input, selection, or the like, regarding a facility to the server 4 via the facility terminal communication unit 31 in response to a command of the manager. The facility terminal access unit 351 receives display data for displaying processing results for input, selection, or the like, regarding the facility from the server 4 via the facility terminal communication unit 31, and displays a page on the facility terminal display unit 34 on the basis of the received display data.

[0042] The facility terminal message management unit 352 transmits or receives a message to or from the server 4 via the facility terminal communication unit 31.

[0043] FIG 4B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the terminal tentative reservation management table.

[0044] The data structure shown in FIG 4B provides a plurality of series of data associated with reservation IDs 400 and stored in the facility terminal storage unit 32. The reservation ID 400 is information for identifying a reservation for the facility, made by the organizing user. A series of data includes, for example, a user name 401 , a reservation date and time 402, the reservation number of people 403, a reservation type 404, a phone number 405, and the like. The above-described series of data is illustrative, and may include another piece of information regarding a reservation.

[0045] The user name 401 is information that indicates the name of a user. The reservation date and time 402 is information that indicates a date and time for which a tentative reservation has been made or a reservation has been confirmed. The reservation number of people 403 is information that indicates the number of people for which a tentative reservation has been made or a reservation has been confirmed. The reservation type 404 is information that indicates the type of any one of tentative reservation and confirmed reservation. The phone number 405 is information that indicates contact information of an organizing user who has confirmed the reservation.

[0046] FIG 5 is a view that shows an example of the schematic configuration of the server 4.

[0047] The server 4 includes a server communication unit 41, the server storage unit 42 and a server processing unit 43. The server 4 consists of a standalone device. The server 4 may consist of a plurality of devices.

[0048] The server communication unit 41 includes a communication interface circuit for transmitting or receiving data via the communication network 5. The server communication unit 41 communicates with the user terminal 2 or the facility terminal 3.

[0049] The server storage unit 42 includes, for example, at least any one of a magnetic tape drive, a magnetic disk drive and an optical disk drive. The server storage unit 42 stores an operating system program, a driver program, an application program, data, and the like, that are used for processing in the server processing unit 43. Each of the programs may be installed from a computer-readable portable storage medium, such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM, into the server storage unit 42 with the use of a known setup program, or the like. The server storage unit 42 stores a user management table (FIG 6A), a facility management table (FIG 6B), a service request management table (FIG 7A), a proposal management table (FIG 7B), a reservation status management table (FIG 8A) and the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B) as the data. The server storage unit 42 further includes a buffer for temporarily storing temporary data regarding predetermined processing.

[0050] The server processing unit 43 includes a transmission unit 431, a reservation unit 432, a cancellation unit 433, a management unit 434, and the like. The server processing unit 43. generally controls the overall operations of the server 4. The server processing unit 43 consists of one or plurality of processors and their peripheral circuit (for example, CPU). The server processing unit 43 controls the operations of the server communication unit 41, and the like, in an appropriate procedure on the basis of the programs (the operating system program, the driver program, the application program, and the like) that are stored in the server storage unit 42. In addition, the server processing unit 43 may execute a plurality of programs (application programs, or the like) in parallel.

[0051] The transmission unit 431, the reservation unit 432, the cancellation unit

433 and the management unit 434 are functional modules that are implemented by programs that are executed by the processors) of the server processing unit 43. The transmission unit 431, the reservation unit 432, the cancellation unit 433 and the management unit 434 may be implemented in the server 4 as firmware.

[0052] The transmission unit 431 transmits service request information to the facility terminals 3 of the plurality of facilities. The service request information contains a desired date and time and desired number of people that the organizing user desires to obtain a service. The details of processing of the transmission unit 431 will be described later.

[0053] As the reservation unit 432 receives the service providing information from any one of the facility terminals 3, the reservation unit 432 registers data in the tentative reservation management table (FIG. 8B) on the assumption that a tentative reservation for only the desired date and time, desired number of people, and the like, has been made for the facility. The reservation unit 432 transmits the received service providing information to the user terminal 2. When the reservation unit 432 has received determination information from the user terminal 2 before a lapse of a predetermined period, the reservation unit 432 confirms the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal 3. The determination information is information for confirming the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal 3. The details of processing of the reservation unit 432 will be described later.

[0054] When the predetermined period has elapsed and the determination information for confirming the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal 3 has not been received from the user terminal 2, the cancellation unit 433 cancels the tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal 3. In addition, when the determination information for confirming the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal 3 has been received from the user terminal 2 before a lapse of the predetermined period, the cancellation unit 433 cancels the tentative reservations for the facilities other than the facility, for which the reservation has been confirmed, among the facilities for which the tentative reservation has been made. The details of processing of the cancellation unit 433 will be described later.

[0055] The management unit 434 executes the process of matching an organizing user who selects a facility at which an event is held with a manager of a facility that provides a service. The details of processing of the management unit 434 will be described later.

[0056] FIG 6A is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the user management table.

[0057] The data structure shown in FIG 6A shows a series of data associated with a user ID 600 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The series of data includes, for example, a user name 601, an e-mail address 602, and the like. The above-described series of data is illustrative, and may include information associated with another user.

[0058] The e-mail address 602 is information that indicates a destination address of the user terminal 2 where the server 4 transmits a service providing notification to the user terminal 2. The service providing notification is information that is transmitted in order to inform that the facility of the facility terminal 3 has proposed a service to be provided.

[0059] FIG 6B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the facility management table.

[0060] The data structure shown in FIG 6B shows a series of data associated with a facility ID 610 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The facility ID 610 is information for identifying a facility. The series of data includes, for example, a facility name 611, an area 612, a food genre 613, business days 614, business hours 615, an e-mail address 616, and the like. The above-described series of data is illustrative, and may include another piece of information regarding a facility. [0061] The facility name 611 is information that indicates the name of a facility. The area 612 is information that indicates an area in which a facility is arranged and a hierarchical structure for expressing the area. For example, the hierarchical structure of the area 612 is composed of (prefectures, large area category, medium area category, small area category). The food genre 613 is information that indicates a food that is provided at a facility and a hierarchical structure for expressing the food. For example, the hierarchical structure of the food genre 613 is composed of (large food genre category, small food genre category). The business days 614 is information that indicates days on which the service of a facility is provided. The business hours 615 is information that indicates hours in which the service of a facility is provided. The e-mail address 616 is information that indicates a destination address to which the server 4 transmits a service request notification to the facility terminal 3. The service request notification is information that is transmitted in order to inform that the organizing user of the user terminal 2 has requested a desired service.

[0062] FIG 7 A is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the service request management table.

[0063] The data structure shown in FIG 7A provides a plurality of series of data associated with service request IDs 700 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The service request ED 700 is information for identifying a service request that an organizing user desires. The series of data includes, for example, a user ID 701, a desired area 702, a desired food genre 703, a desired date and time 704, the desired number of people 705, a budget 706, the desired number of proposals received from facilities 707, a determined facility ID 708, and the like. The above-described series of data is one example, and may include another piece of information regarding a service request.

[0064] The desired area 702 is information that indicates an area selected by the organizing user. The desired food genre 703 is information that indicates a food genre selected by the organizing user. The desired date and time 704 is information that indicates a desired date and time selected by the organizing user. The desired number of people 705 is the number of users who attend an event to be held. The budget 706 is a budget per person for an event. The desired number of proposals received from facilities 707 is information that indicates the upper limit of the number of pieces of service providing information that the user terminal 2 can receive from the server 4. The determined facility ID 708 is information for identifying a facility determined as a facility at which an event is held.

[0065] FIG 7B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the proposal management table.

[0066] The data structure shown in FIG 7B provides a plurality of series of data associated with proposal IDs 710 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The proposal ID 710 is identification information allocated to each proposal of a service proposed by the manager of a facility, that is, the user of a facility terminal 3. The series of data includes, for example, a facility ID 711, a service request ID 712, a proposal message 713, and the like. The above-described series of data is illustrative, and may include another piece of information regarding a proposal. The proposal message 713 is a proposed content of a service, proposed by the manager of a facility.

[0067] FIG 8A is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the reservation status management table.

[0068] The data structure shown in FIG 8A provides a plurality of series of data associated with facility IDs 800 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The series of data includes, for example, a date 801, the number of available seats 802, and the like. The above-described series of data is one example, and may include another piece of information regarding a reservation.

[0069] The date 801 is information that indicates a date at which each facility provides a service. The number of available seats 802 is information that indicates the number of remaining seats, or the like, of each facility, available to users.

[0070] FIG 8B is a view that shows an example of the data structure of the tentative reservation management table.

[0071] The data structure shown in FIG 8B provides a plurality of series of data associated with reservation IDs 810 and stored in the server storage unit 42. The series of data includes, for example, a facility ID 811, a user ID 812, a reservation date and time 813, the reservation number of people 814, a reservation type 815, a cancellation period 816, a service request ID 817, and the like. The above-described series of data is one example, and may include another piece of information regarding a reservation.

[0072] A user ID 812 is information for identifying an organizing user. The reservation date and time 813 is information that indicates a date and time for which a tentative reservation has been made or a reservation has been confirmed. The reservation number of people 814 is information that indicates the number of people for which a tentative reservation has been made or a reservation has been confirmed. The reservation type 815 is information that indicates the type of any one of tentative reservation and confirmed reservation. The cancellation period 816 is information that indicates a period to a date that is the number of days, set by the manager of a facility, before from the desired date and time of an organizing user. The cancellation period is an example of the predetermined period.

[0073] FIG 9 is a view that shows an example of the operation sequence of the matching system 1.

[0074] The operation sequence that will be described below is executed mainly by the user terminal processing unit 25, the facility terminal processing units 35 and the server processing unit 43 on the basis of programs that are stored in the user terminal storage unit 22, the facility terminal storage units 32 and the server storage unit 42 in advance in cooperation with the elements of the user terminal 2, facility terminals 3 and server 4.

[0075] Initially, in response to operation of the organizing user, the user terminal access unit 251 of the user terminal 2 logs into the server 4, and transmits a requirement setting page information acquisition request to the server 4 (step SI 00). The requirement setting page information acquisition request is a request for acquiring requirement setting page information. The requirement setting page information is information for displaying a requirement setting page (see FIG 10) (described later).

[0076] Subsequently, as the management unit 434 of the server 4 receives the requirement setting page information acquisition request from the user terminal 2, the management unit 434 transmits the requirement setting page information to the user terminal 2 (step SI 01). The requirement setting page information acquisition request contains the user ED of the organizing user. The management unit 434 consults the user management table (FIG 6A), and identifies the user name of the organizing user who has transmitted the requirement setting page information acquisition request. The management unit 434 transmits the requirement setting page information to the user terminal 2. The requirement setting page information contains the identified user name of the organizing user, all the areas and all the food genres, which are shown in a hierarchical structure.

[0077] Subsequently, as the user terminal access unit 251 of the user terminal 2 receives the requirement setting page information from the server 4, the user terminal access unit 251 displays the requirement setting page (see FIG 10) on the user terminal display unit 24 on the basis of the received requirement setting page information (step SI 02).

[0078] FIG 10 is a view that shows an example of the requirement setting page that is displayed on the user terminal 2.

[0079] The requirement setting page contains an organizing user name 1000, selection areas 1001 to 1003, radio buttons 1004, 1005, pull-down menus 1006, 1008, an input box 1007 and a set button 1009.

[0080] The organizing user name 1000 is the user name of an organizing user. The selection area 1001 is an area for selecting a desired area. A top-level area category (for example, whole country) is displayed in the selection area 1001 in an initial state. As the top-level area category has been selected by the organizing user, an area category (for example, Tokyo metropolis) lower than the top-level area category is expanded. Thus, the organizing user is allowed to select sequentially the top-level area category to lower-level area categories. In FIG 10, area categories are selected through operation of the organizing user in order of whole country, Tokyo metropolis, Iidabashi, Yotsuya and Kagurazaka, and Yotsuya. The set of radio buttons 1004 is an area for selecting an area category that the organizing user desires within the selected area category as a desired area.

[0081] The selection area 1002 is an area for selecting a desired food genre. The top-level food genre category (for example, all) is displayed in the selection area 1002 in an initial state. As the top-level food genre category is selected by the organizing user, the lower-level food genre category (for example, Italian and French) is expanded. Thus, the organizing user is allowed to sequentially select a food genre category in order from the top-level food genre category to the lower-level food genre category. In FIG 10, the food genre category is selected through operation of the organizing user in order of all foods, and Italian and French. The set of radio buttons 1005 is an area for selecting a food genre category that the organizing user desires within the selected food genre category as a desired food genre.

[0082] The selection area 1003 is an area for selecting a desired date and time. A desired date and a desired time are displayed in the selection area 1003 as a desired date and time such that a desired date and a desired time are allowed to be specified.

[0083] The pull-down menu 1006 is an area for selecting the number of users who attend an event. The number of users who attend an event is displayed in the pull-down menu 1006 such that the number of users is allowed to be specified. The input box 1007 is an area for inputting a budget per person. The pull-down menu 1008 is an area for selecting the desired number of proposals received from facilities. The desired number of proposals received from facilities is displayed in the pull-down menu 1008 such that the desired number of proposals received from facilities is allowed to be specified. The set button 1009 is a button for setting the specified pieces of service request information.

[0084] Subsequently, as the organizing user depresses the set button 1009 with the use of the user terminal operation unit 23, the user terminal access unit 251 transmits service request information, indicating the service request specified on the requirement setting page (see FIG 10), to the server 4 (step SI 03). The service request information contains the desired date and time, desired number of people, desired area, desired food genre, budget and desired number of proposals received from facilities of the organizing user.

[0085] Subsequently, as the management unit 434 of the server 4 receives the service request information from the user terminal 2, the management unit 434 extracts a facility available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time from among the plurality of facilities (step SI 04). The management unit 434 identifies the desired date and time, the desired number of people, the desired area, the desired food genre, the budget and the desired number of proposals received from facilities, contained in the service request information. The management unit 434 newly generates a service request ID, and registers the generated service request ID in the service request management table (FIG 7 A) in association with the identified pieces of information. The management unit 434 consults the facility management table (FIG 6B), and extracts the identified desired date and time, desired area and desired food genre. For example, in the case of the service request shown on the requirement setting page of FIG 10, such facilities that the desired date and time falls within the business hours of the business days of the facilities, the facilities are located in the area of Yotsuya-sanchome station as the desired area and the facilities provide pasta as the desired food genre are extracted. In addition, the management unit 434 consults the reservation status management table (FIG 8A), and extracts a facility available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time from among the extracted facilities. For example, in the case of the service request shown on the requirement setting page of FIG 10, facilities available to four people as the desired number of people at 19:00 on September 24, 2015 as the desired date and time are extracted.

[0086] Subsequently, the transmission unit 431 consults the facility management table (FIG 6B), identifies the e-mail addresses of the facility terminals 3 of the facilities extracted by the management unit 434, and transmits an e-mail as a service request notification to the identified e-mail addresses. As the facility terminal message management unit 352 of the facility terminal 3 of the facility receives the service request notification from the server 4, the facility terminal message management unit 352 displays pieces of information, contained in the received service request notification, on the facility terminal display unit 34. The service request notification is transmitted to a plurality of facilities in response to the number of facilities available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time.

[0087] FIG 11 A is a view that shows an example of an e-mail that is displayed on the facility terminal 3.

[0088] The service request notification contains a destination 1100, a service request notification 1101 of the organizing user, request text 1102 and a URL 1103 for accessing the matching system 1. The e-mail contains the facility name of the facility as the destination 1100, information that the service request information has been received as the service request notification 1101, a message that requires a proposal of a service as the request text 1102 and the URL 1103 for accessing in order to require a proposal of a service.

[0089] Subsequently, in accordance with operation of the manager, the facility terminal access unit 351 of the facility terminal 3 logs into the server 4, and transmits a requirement list page information acquisition request to the server 4. The requirement list page information acquisition request is a request for acquiring requirement list page information. The requirement list page information is information for displaying a requirement list page (see FIG. 11B) (described later).

[0090] Subsequently, as the management unit 434 of the server 4 receives the requirement list page information acquisition request from the facility terminal 3, the management unit 434 transmits the requirement list page information, containing the service request information, to the facility terminal 3 (step SI 05). The requirement list page information acquisition request contains a facility ID. The management unit 434 consults the service request management table (FIG 7A) and the facility management table (FIG 6B), and extracts service request information that applies to the facility corresponding to the facility ID. The transmission unit 431 transmits the requirement list page information, containing the extracted service request information, to the facility terminal 3.

[0091] Subsequently, as the facility terminal access unit 351 of the facility terminal 3 receives the requirement list page information from the server 4, the facility terminal access unit 351 displays the requirement list page (see FIG 11B) on the facility terminal display unit 34 on the basis of the received requirement list page information (step SI 06).

[0092] FIG 1 IB is a view that shows an example of the requirement list page that is displayed on the facility terminal 3.

[0093] The requirement list page contains pieces of service request information 1110, 1112 and propose buttons 1111, 1113 respectively for organizing users of which the requirements coincide with the service contents that are provided at the facility of the facility terminal 3. Each of the pieces of service request information 1110, 1112 is a service request that a corresponding one of the organizing users desires, and contains a desired date and time and desired number of people of the corresponding organizing user.

[0094] Subsequently, the facility terminal access unit 351 accepts input of service providing information (step SI 07). When the propose button 1111 has been depressed through operation of the manager, the facility terminal access unit 351 displays a proposal input page (see FIG. 11C) for the service request information corresponding to the depressed propose button. The proposal input page is a page for inputting information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time, contained in the service request information.

[0095] FIG 11C is a view that shows an example of the proposal input page that is displayed on the facility terminal 3.

[0096] The proposal input page contains service request information 1120, a pull-down menu 1121 , a proposal message input box 1122 and a transmit button 1123.

[0097] The service request information 1120 is service request information corresponding to the depressed propose button in FIG 11B. The pull-down menu 1121 is an area for selecting a specified period as the cancellation period. The number of days of the cancellation period is displayed in the pull-down menu 1121 such that the number of days is allowed to be specified. The proposal message input box 1122 is an area for inputting a proposal message to an organizing user. The transmit button 1123 is a button for transmitting the selected cancellation period and the input proposal message to the server 4 as the service providing information.

[0098] Subsequently, as the pull-down menu 1121 of the cancellation period is selected, a proposal message for proposing a service is input to the proposal message input box 1122 and the transmit button 1123 is depressed through operation of the manager of the facility, the facility terminal access unit 351 makes a tentative reservation for the facility. The facility terminal access unit 351 identifies the user name contained in the service request information corresponding to the depressed propose button in FIG 1 IB. In addition, the facility terminal access unit 351 identifies the desired date and time contained in the service request corresponding to the depressed propose button in FIG. 1 IB as the reservation date and time, and identifies the desired number of people as the reservation number of people. The facility terminal access unit 351 newly generates a reservation ID, and registers the generated reservation ID in the terminal tentative reservation management table (FIG 4B) in association with the tentative reservation as the reservation type and the identified pieces of information. Thus, the manager of the facility is allowed to see which organizing user has made a tentative reservation for how many people at what date and time by consulting the terminal tentative reservation management table (FIG 4B).

[0099] Subsequently, the facility terminal access unit 351 transmits the service providing information to the server 4 (step SI 08). The service providing information contains information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time, corresponding to the depressed propose button in FIG 11B, the cancellation period, the proposal message and the service request ID of the service request of the organizing user to be proposed. The reservation unit 432 of the server 4 receives the service providing information from the facility terminal 3, and identifies information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time, the cancellation period, the proposal message and the service request ID, contained in the received service providing information. The reservation unit 432 newly generates a proposal ID, and registers the generated proposal ID in the proposal management table (FIG 7B) in association with the facility ID of the facility of the facility terminal 3 that has transmitted the service providing information, and the identified proposal message and service request ID.

[0100] Subsequently, the reservation unit 432 makes a tentative reservation for the facility (step SI 09). The reservation unit 432 consults the service request management table (FIG. 7A), identifies the user ID associated with the identified service request ID, identifies the desired date and time as the reservation date and time, and identifies the desired number of people as the reservation number of people. In addition, the reservation unit 432 newly generates a reservation ID, and registers the generated reservation ID in the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B) in association with the facility ED of the facility of the facility terminal 3 that has transmitted the service providing information, the tentative reservation as the reservation type, the identified user ID, the identified reservation date and time, the identified reservation number of people, the cancellation period and the service request ID. The reservation unit 432 sets a cancellation period by registering the cancellation period in the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B).

[0101] Subsequently, the reservation unit 432 updates the reservation status of the tentatively reserved facility. The reservation unit 432 consults the reservation status management table (FIG 8A), and reduces the number of available seats of the tentatively reserved facility at the reservation date and time by the reservation number of people.

[0102] Subsequently, the reservation unit 432 consults the facility management table (FIG 6B), and identifies the facility name, area and food genre of the facility of the facility terminal 3 that has transmitted the service providing information. The reservation unit 432 further incorporates the identified pieces of information into the received service providing information.

[0103] Subsequently, the reservation unit 432 consults the user management table (FIG 6A), identifies the e-mail address of the organizing user who desires the service request corresponding to the service request ID contained in the service providing information, and transmits an e-mail to the user terminal 2 at the identified e-mail address as a service providing notification.

[0104] The management unit 434 determines whether the user terminal 2 has received service providing notifications in the desired number of proposals received from facilities. When the user terminal 2 has received service providing notifications in the desired number of proposals received from facilities, the management unit 434 does not transmit the service providing notification to the user terminal 2, and transmits an error message to the facility terminal 3. The management unit 434 consults the service request management table (FIG 7A), and identifies the desired number of proposals received from facilities, associated with the service request ID corresponding to the service providing notification. The management unit 434 consults the proposal management table (FIG 7B), and counts the number of service providing notifications transmitted for the service request ID corresponding to the service providing notification. The management unit 434 determines whether the user terminal 2 has received service providing notifications in the desired number of proposals received from facilities on the basis of whether the counted number has reached the desired number of proposals received from facilities. When the user terminal 2 has not received service providing notifications in the desired number of proposals received from facilities, the reservation unit 432 transmits the service providing notification to the user terminal 2. On the other hand, when the user terminal 2 has received service providing notifications in the desired number of proposals received from facilities, the management unit 434 does not transmit the service providing notification to the user terminal 2, and transmits an error message to the facility terminal 3. Thus, the management unit 434 is able to prevent the user terminal 2 from receiving service providing notifications over the desired number of proposals received from facilities.

[0105] Subsequently, as the user terminal message management unit 252 of the user terminal 2 receives the service providing notification from the server 4, the user terminal message management unit 252 displays the pieces of information, contained in the received service providing notification, on the user terminal display unit 24.

[0106] FIG 12A is a view that shows an example of an e-mail that is displayed on the user terminal 2. [0107] The service providing notification contains a destination 1200, a notification 1201 that service providing information has been provided, request text 1202 and a URL 1203 for accessing the matching system 1. The e-mail contains the user name of the organizing user as the destination 1200, a message that requires to determine a facility as the request text 1202, and the URL 1203 for accessing in order to determine a facility.

[0108] Subsequently, in accordance with operation of the organizing user, the user terminal access unit 251 of the user terminal 2 logs into the server 4, and transmits a providing list page information acquisition request to the server 4. The providing list page information acquisition request is a request for acquiring providing list page information. The providing list page information is information for displaying a providing list page (see FIG 12B) (described later).

[0109] Subsequently, as the reservation unit 432 of the server 4 receives the providing list page information acquisition request from the user terminal 2, the reservation unit 432 transmits the providing list page information, containing the service providing information, to the user terminal 2 (step SI 10). The providing list page information acquisition request contains the user ID of the organizing user. The reservation unit 432 consults the service request management table (FIG 7A) and the proposal management table (FIG 7B), and identifies the proposal message and the facility ID of the facility that has proposed the proposal message. The reservation unit 432 consults the facility management table (FIG 6B), and identifies the facility name, area and food genre associated with the identified facility ID. The reservation unit 432 transmits the providing list page information, containing the service providing information based on the identified pieces of information, to the user terminal 2.

[0110] The processes of step SI 06 to step SI 10 may be executed multiple times in response to the number of facilities that have proposed services.

[0111] Subsequently, as the user terminal access unit 251 of the user terminal 2 receives the providing list page information from the server 4, the user terminal access unit 251 displays the providing list page (FIG 12B) on the user terminal display unit 24 on the basis of the received providing list page information (step Si ll).

[0112] FIG 12B is a view that shows an example of the providing list page that is displayed on the user terminal 2.

[0113] The providing list page contains pieces of service providing information 1210, 1212, 1214, determine buttons 1211, 1213, 1215, and the like. The providing list page contains the facility name, area and food genre of the facility, the proposal message and information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time as the service providing information 1210. Pieces of service providing information from facility terminals 3 of other facilities available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time are shown as the pieces of service providing information 1212, 1214. The details of the determine buttons 1211, 1213, 1215 will be described later.

[0114] Subsequently, the management iinit 434 of the server 4 determines whether the predetermined period has elapsed (step SI 12). The predetermined period is information that indicates a period to a deadline at which a tentative reservation for the facility is automatically cancelled. The management unit 434 consults the service request management table (FIG 7A) and the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B), and determines whether the cancellation period has elapsed.

[0115] When the predetermined period has elapsed in step 112, the cancellation unit 433 cancels the tentative reservation for the facility (step SI 13). The cancellation unit 433 consults the service request management table (FIG 7A) and the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B), and identifies the facility ID of the tentatively reserved facility and the service request ID, for which determination information has not been received until the cancellation period elapses. The cancellation unit 433 consults the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B) and the user management table (FIG 6A), and identifies the user name, the reservation date and time and the reservation number of people, associated with the identified service request ID of the tentative reservation. The cancellation unit 433 generates a tentative reservation cancellation notification containing the identified pieces of information. The tentative reservation cancellation notification is information for informing that the tentative reservation is cancelled. The cancellation unit 433 consults the reservation status management table (FIG 8 A), and increases the number of available seats of the identified facility ID by the reservation number of people of the cancelled tentative reservation. The cancellation unit 433 cancels the tentative reservation for the facility by deleting the identified tentative reservation from the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B).

[0116] Subsequently, the cancellation unit 433 transmits the generated tentative reservation cancellation notification to the facility terminal 3 of the facility for which the tentative reservation has been cancelled (step SI 14). The cancellation unit 433 consults the facility management table (FIG 6B), identifies the e-mail address of the facility corresponding to the facility ID contained in the tentative reservation cancellation notification, and transmits an e-mail to the facility terminal 3 at the identified e-mail address as the tentative reservation cancellation notification. As the facility terminal message management unit 352 of the facility terminal 3 of the facility receives the tentative reservation cancellation notification from the server 4, the facility terminal message management unit 352 displays the pieces of information, contained in the received tentative reservation cancellation notification, on the facility terminal display unit 34.

[0117] Subsequently, through operation of the manager of the facility, the facility terminal 3 deletes the cancelled tentative reservation from the terminal tentative reservation management table (FIG 4B).

[0118] The cancellation unit 433 transmits the generated tentative reservation cancellation notification to the user terminal 2 that has transmitted the service providing information for tentative reservation (step SI 15). The cancellation unit 433 consults the service request management table (FIG 7A) and the user management table (FIG 6A), and identifies the e-mail address of the organizing user, associated with the identified service request ID of the tentative reservation. The cancellation unit 433 transmits an e-mail to the user terminal 2 at the identified e-mail address as the tentative reservation cancellation notification.

[0119] In this way, when the server 4 has not received determination information until the cancellation period elapses, the server 4 cancels the tentative reservation for the facility, so the facility does not need to keep the facility for the tentative reservation for a long period. Therefore, the facility is allowed to accept a reservation from another user for the cancelled tentatively reserved seats of the facility.

[0120] When the predetermined period has not elapsed in step SI 12, the management unit 434 determines whether determination information has been received from the user terminal 2 (step SI 16).

[0121] When determination information has not been received from the user terminal 2 in step SI 16, the management unit 434 proceeds to the process of step SI 12.

[0122] On the other hand, as the determine button is depressed through operation of the organizing user on the page (FIG 12B) displayed through the process of step Sill, the user terminal access unit 251 displays a determination page (see FIG 12C) for confirming the reservation for the facility corresponding to the depressed determine button on the user terminal display unit 24.

[0123] FIG. 12C is a view that shows an example of the determination page that is displayed on the user terminal 2.

[0124] The determination page contains information 1220 regarding a reservation for a facility, input boxes 1221, 1222 and a transmit button 1223. The determination page contains the facility name, the desired date and time and the desired number of people as the information 1220 regarding a reservation for a facility, contains an input area for inputting the phone number of the organizing user as the input box 1221, and contains an input area for inputting a request message to the facility as the input box 1222.

[0125] Subsequently, as the phone number of the organizing user is input to the input box 1221 and the request message for the facility is input to the input box 1222 through operation of the organizing user and then the transmit button 1223 is depressed, the user terminal access unit 251 transmits determination information to the server 4 (step SI 17). The determination information contains the information regarding the reservation for the facility, the input phone number of the organizing user, the input request message and the facility ID of the facility corresponding to the depressed determine button in FIG 12B.

[0126] Subsequently, when the determination information has been received in step SI 16, the reservation unit 432 confirms the reservation for the facility (step SI 18). The reservation unit 432 identifies the information regarding the reservation for the facility, the phone number of the organizing user, the request message and the facility ID of the facility corresponding to the determine button, contained in the determination information. The reservation unit 432 identifies the service request ID of the service request of the organizing user of the user terminal 2 that has transmitted the determination information, and registers the identified facility ID in the service request management table (FIG 7A) in association with the identified service request ID. The reservation unit 432 consults the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B), and changes the reservation type associated with the identified facility ID and service request ID from the tentative reservation to the confirmed reservation.

[0127] Subsequently, the reservation unit 432 transmits a confirmed reservation notification to the facility terminal 3 of the facility for which the reservation has been confirmed (step SI 19). The reservation unit 432 consults the facility management table (FIG 6B), and identifies the e-mail address of the facility terminal 3 of the facility of the identified facility ID. The management unit 434 transmits the confirmed reservation notification, containing the information regarding the reservation for the identified facility, the phone number of the organizing user and the request message, to the e-mail address of the identified facility terminal 3. Subsequently, when the facility terminal 3 changes the reservation type of the tentative reservation in the terminal tentative reservation management table (FIG 4B) from the tentative reservation to the confirmed reservation through operation of the manager of the facility, the manager of the facility is allowed to manage that the reservation for the facility has been confirmed by the organizing user. The manager of the facility is allowed to contact the organizing user for reservation confirmation, or the like, with the use of the phone number of the organizing user.

[0128] Subsequently, the reservation unit 432 transmits the confirmed reservation notification to the user terminal 2 of the organizing user who has confirmed the reservation (step S120). The reservation unit 432 consults the user management table (FIG 6A), and identifies the e-mail address of the organizing user of the user terminal 2 that has transmitted the determination information. The reservation unit 432 transmits the confirmed reservation notification to the e-mail address of the identified user terminal 2.

[0129] Subsequently, the cancellation unit 433 cancels the tentative reservations for the facilities other than the facility for which the reservation has been confirmed (step S121). The cancellation unit 433 consults the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B), identifies the service request ID associated with the tentative reservation for the facility for which the reservation has been confirmed, and identifies the tentative reservation numbers of people and facility IDs of the facilities, other than the facility for which the reservation has been confirmed, associated with the identified service request ID. The cancellation unit 433 consults the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B) and the user management table (FIG 6A), and identifies the facility IDs of the tentatively reserved facilities other than the facility for which the reservation has been confirmed, the user name, the reservation date and time and the reservation number of people, associated with the identified service request ID. The cancellation unit 433 generates a tentative reservation cancellation notification containing the identified pieces of information. The cancellation unit 433 consults the reservation status management table (FIG 8A), and increases the numbers of available seats of the identified facility IDs by the identified reservation number of people. The cancellation unit 433 deletes the tentative reservations of the facilities, other than the facility for which the reservation has been confirmed, associated with the identified service request ID, from the tentative reservation management table (FIG 8B).

[0130] Subsequently, the cancellation unit 433 transmits the tentative reservation cancellation notification to the facility terminals 3 of the tentatively reserved facilities other than the facility for which the reservation has been confirmed (step SI 22). The cancellation unit 433 consults the facility management table (FIG 6B), identifies the e-mail addresses of the facilities corresponding to the facility IDs contained in the tentative reservation cancellation notification, and transmits an e-mail to the facility terminals 3 at the identified e-mail addresses as the tentative reservation cancellation notification. As the facility terminal message management unit 352 of the facility terminal 3 of the facility receives the tentative reservation cancellation notification from the server 4, the facility terminal message management unit 352 displays the pieces of information, contained in the received tentative reservation cancellation notification, on the facility terminal display unit 34.

[0131] Subsequently, through operation of the manager of the facility, the facility terminal 3 deletes the cancelled tentative reservations from the terminal tentative reservation management table (FIG 4B).

[0132] The cancellation unit 433 transmits the generated tentative reservation cancellation notification to the user terminal 2 that has transmitted the service providing information for the tentative reservation (step SI 23). The cancellation unit 433 consults the user management table (FIG 6A), and identifies the e-mail address of the organizing user of the user terminal 2 that has transmitted the determination information. The reservation unit 432 transmits the tentative reservation cancellation notification to the identified e-mail address of the user terminal 2.

[0133] In this way, the server 4 cancels the tentative reservations of the facilities other than the facility for which the reservation has been confirmed, so each facility does not need to keep the facility for tentative reservation for a long period. When the predetermined period has elapsed, the server 4 cancels the tentative reservation for the facility, so the storage area of the server 4 is not consumed more than necessary. On the other hand, the user is allowed to make a tentative reservation for a plurality of desired facilities or a single desired facility for the predetermined period, so the user is allowed to easily fix a reservation for a facility by confirming the reservation during then.

[0134] The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG 1 to FIG

1 ID. For example, the embodiment may be modified or changed as described below.

[0135] (1) The cancellation period may be a period from when the server 4 has received service request information from the user terminal 2 to when a period specified by the manager of the facility elapses. The cancellation period may be a fixed period for all the facilities. In this case, the processing load of the server 4 and the consumption of the storage area of the server 4 are reduced.

[0136] (2) When the server 4 has received determination information from the user terminal 2 before a discount period shorter than the cancellation period elapses, the server 4 may discount a charge for a service to the organizing user of the user terminal 2 in accordance with a predetermined discount amount or discount rate. Alternatively, when the server 4 has received determination information from the user terminal 2 before a bonus period shorter than the cancellation period elapses, the server 4 may give a bonus to the organizing user of the user terminal 2. The bonus is, for example, a free service, such as one drink free and novelty goods present. Alternatively, the bonus may be, for example, another free service. In these cases, the service providing information or the service providing notification contains a discount period, and a discount amount or discount rate. Alternatively, the service providing information or the service providing notification contains a bonus period and a bonus content. The pieces of information contained in the service providing information or the service providing notification are displayed on the user terminal display unit 24. Thus, the server 4 is able to improve the probability that an organizing user early confirms a reservation for a facility.

[0137] (3) As a period from when the server 4 transmits service providing information or service providing notification to the user terminal 2 to when the server 4 receives determination information from the user terminal 2 is shorter, the server 4 may increase the discount rate or discount amount of a charge for a service to the organizing user of the user terminal 2. Alternatively, as a period from when the server 4 transmits service providing information or service providing notification to the user terminal 2 to when the server 4 receives determination information from the user terminal 2 is shorter, the server 4 may give a larger or better bonus to an organizing user of the user terminal 2. The larger or better bonus may be, for example, a free service, such as an increase in the number of glasses of free drink and an increase in the amount of novelty goods present or a rise in the quality of novelty goods present. Alternatively, the larger or better bonus may be, for example, a larger amount or better quality other free service. In these cases, service providing information or service providing notification contains a plurality of discount amounts or a plurality of discount rates, and a discount period corresponding to each discount amount or each discount rate. Alternatively, service providing information or service providing notification contains a plurality of bonuses and a bonus period corresponding to each bonus. The pieces of information contained in service providing information or service providing notification are displayed on the user terminal display unit 24. Thus, the server 4 is able to improve the probability that an organizing user early confirms a reservation for a facility.

[0138] (4) The reservation unit 432 of the server 4 may acquire required data within the data stored in the reservation status management table (FIG 8A) from a server that manages the reservation status of another facility. In this case, the reservation unit 432 informs a change made to the reservation status management table (FIG 8A) to the server that manages the reservation status of another facility, and synchronizes the data stored in the reservation status management table (FIG 8A). Thus, the server 4 is able to cut the storage capacity of the server storage unit 42.

[0139] (5) The reservation unit 432 may keep a facility by making a reservation for the facility in place of making a tentative reservation for the facility in the process of step SI 09 of FIG 9. The reservation unit 432 may fix a reservation for a facility by maintaining the reservation in place of confirming the reservation for the facility in the process of step S 118 of FIG 9.

[0140] (6) The format of service request information that the user terminal 2 transmits and the format of service request information that the server 4 transmits may be different from each other. That is, the server 4 may change the format of service request information received from the user terminal 2 and then transmit the service request information to the facility terminal 3. Similarly, the server 4 may change the format of service providing information received from the facility terminal 3 and then transmit the service providing information to the user terminal 2.

[0141] (7) The service request notification may contain the service request information. The service providing notification may contain the service providing information.

[0142] (8) The computer program for causing a computer to implement the functions of the user terminal processing unit 25, facility terminal processing unit 35 and server processing unit 43 may be provided such that the computer program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a magnetic recording medium and an optical recording medium.

[0143] Persons skilled in the art understand that various modifications, replacements and changes are allowed to be added to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A control method for a server (4), the control method characterized by comprising:

as service request information, containing a desired date and time and desired number of people of a user who receives a service, is received from a user terminal (2), transmitting the service request information to facility terminals (3) of a plurality of facilities;

as service providing information, containing information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time, is received from the corresponding facility terminal, making a tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal and transmitting the service providing information to the user terminal; and

when a predetermined period has elapsed and determination information for confirming the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal has not been received from the user terminal, cancelling the tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal.

2. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

when the determination information has been received from the user terminal before the predetermined period elapses, confirming the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal and cancelling the tentative reservation for the facility other than the facility, for which the reservation has been confirmed, among the facilities for which the tentative reservation has been made.

3. The control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

the service providing information contains a period specified by a manager of the facility, and

the control method further comprising setting the period contained in the service providing information as the predetermined period.

4. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: when the determination information has been received from the user terminal before a second predetermined period shorter than the predetermined period elapses, discounting a charge for the service in accordance with a predetermined discount amount or discount rate or giving a bonus to the user of the user terminal.

5. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: as a period from when the service providing information is transmitted to when the determination information is received from the user terminal is shorter, increasing a discount rate or discount amount by which a charge for the service is discounted or giving a larger or better bonus to the user of the user terminal.

6. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein

the predetermined period is a fixed period for all the plurality of facilities.

7. A server (4) characterized by comprising:

a transmission unit (431) that, as service request information, containing a desired date and time and desired number of people of a user who receives a service, is received from a user terminal (2), transmits the service request information to facility terminals (3) of a plurality of facilities;

a tentative reservation unit (432) that, as service providing information, containing information that the facility is available for the desired number of people at the desired date and time, is received from the corresponding facility terminal, makes a tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal and transmits the service providing information to the user terminal; and

a cancellation unit (433) that, when a predetermined period has elapsed and determination information for confirming the reservation for the facility of the facility terminal has not been received from the user terminal, cancels the tentative reservation for the facility of the facility terminal.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for a server (4), the control program causing the server to execute instructions for: