RELATIONSHIP SUPPORT APPARATUS, RELATIONSHIP SUPPORT METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20120005272A1
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: ITABA, Masahiro, KAWAHARA, Noriaki, TOMITA, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 8,903,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Provided is a relationship support apparatus capable of preventing a user from inconsistently applying for relationships. An receiving section (32) receives an input of identification information of a desired relationship partner user, and further receives an input of identification information of the relationship-seeking user. A determination section (38) determines, based on the identification information of the relationship-seeking user and the identification information of the desired relationship partner user, whether or not an agreement has been reached on the relationship between the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user. A suspension section (40) suspends, based on a result of the determining performed by the determination section (38), the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user from carrying out a relationship-seeking activity with respect to another user.

Claims

1. A relationship support apparatus, in which information of a plurality of users looking for a relationship partner is registered, which supports the plurality of users in seeking an opportunity to have a relationship with each other, and which is communicably connected to terminals of the plurality of users, the relationship support apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving identification information of a desired relationship partner user, with whom a relationship-seeking user seeking a relationship desires to have a relationship, sent from the terminal of the relationship-seeking user, and further receiving identification information of the relationship-seeking user, with whom the desired relationship partner user desires to have a relationship, sent from the terminal of the desired relationship partner user;

determination means for determining, based on the identification information of the relationship-seeking user and the identification information of the desired relationship partner user that have been obtained through the receiving means, whether or not an agreement has been reached on the relationship between the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user; and

suspension means for suspending, based on a result of the determining performed by the determination means, the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user from carrying out a relationship-seeking activity with respect to another user.

2. The relationship support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

a mode of enabling the relationship-seeking activity to be carried out is defined as an active mode and a mode of disabling the relationship-seeking activity from being carried out is defined as a suspended mode,

the receiving means receives an input of a change request to change the suspended mode to the active mode from at least one of the terminal of the relationship-seeking user and the terminal of the desired relationship partner user in the case the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user are in the suspended mode; and

the suspension means changes the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user from the suspended mode to the active mode based on the change request that has been obtained through the receiving means.

3. The relationship support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

a mode of enabling the relationship-seeking activity to be carried out is defined as an active mode and a mode of disabling the relationship-seeking activity from being carried out is defined as a suspended mode,

the receiving means receives an input of a change request to change the active mode to the suspended mode from the terminal of the relationship-seeking user along with the identification information of the desired relationship partner user, and further receives an input of the change request to change the active mode to the suspended mode from the terminal of the desired relationship partner user along with the identification information of the relationship-seeking user;

the suspension means changes status of the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user from the active mode to the suspended mode based on the change requests that have been obtained through the receiving means; and

the determination means determines, based on the identification information of the relationship-seeking user and the identification information of the desired relationship partner user, whether or not the agreement has been reached on the relationship between the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user, and notifies the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user of a result of the determining.

4. The relationship support apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

while the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user are in the suspended mode, the receiving means receives an input of a change request to change the suspended mode to the active mode from one of the terminal of the relationship-seeking user and the terminal of the desired relationship partner user; and

the suspension means changes one of the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user from the suspended mode to the active mode based on the change request that has been obtained through the receiving means, and notifies another one of the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user of the change to the active mode.

5. A relationship support method of registering information of a plurality of relationship-seeking users who seek a relationship and supporting the plurality of relationship-seeking users in seeking an opportunity to have a relationship with each other, the relationship support method comprising:

receiving identification information of a desired relationship partner user, with whom a relationship-seeking user seeking a relationship desires to have a relationship, from a terminal of the relationship-seeking user;

receiving identification information of the relationship-seeking user, with whom the desired relationship partner user desires to have a relationship, from a terminal of the desired relationship partner user;

determining, based on the identification information of the relationship-seeking user and the identification information of the desired relationship partner user, whether or not an agreement has been reached on the relationship between the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user; and

suspending, based on a result of the determining, the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user from carrying out a relationship-seeking activity with respect to another user.

6. A computer-readable storage medium having a program stored therein, the program causing a computer to function as a relationship support apparatus, in which information of a plurality of users looking for a relationship partner is registered, which supports the plurality of users in seeking an opportunity to have a relationship with each other, and which is communicably connected to terminals of the plurality of users, the program further causing the computer to function as:

receiving means for receiving identification information of a desired relationship partner user, with whom a relationship-seeking user seeking a relationship desires to have a relationship, sent from the terminal of the relationship-seeking user, and further receiving identification information of the relationship-seeking user, with whom the desired relationship partner user desires to have a relationship, sent from the terminal of the desired relationship partner user;

determination means for determining, based on the identification information of the relationship-seeking user and the identification information of the desired relationship partner user that have been obtained through the receiving means, whether or not an agreement has been reached on the relationship between the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user; and

suspension means for suspending, based on a result of the determining performed by the determination means, the relationship-seeking user and the desired relationship partner user from carrying out a relationship-seeking activity with respect to another user.