Abstract:
Customer information including construction commission information from customers who make access through communication lines and/or the Internet is collected and disclosed onto the Internet. Agent information including proposals from agents who have browsed the disclosed customer information is also collected through communication lines and/or the Internet and disclosed to the customers. This makes the information collection between the customers and agents smoother, expands the range of business operations by the agents, and increases the range of selections by the customers for more satisfactory agent selections.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a construction brokerage system for use in customer/agent information collection, disclosure, bidding, proposal audition/product information search, product purchase, specialist search/selection/commission, and so forth, the system being suited to intermediating between customers who plan to have a building newly built, extended, or rebuilt, and construction agents/construction-related agents (referred to simply as agents) through the Internet.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    When customers plan to have a building newly built, extended, rebuilt, or renovated, or to have interior renovations, kitchen renovations, and so on, or when they plan to commission construction-related budgeting, financing consultation, purchase of real estate, interior design, construction design, selection of contractors, construction estimation, technical inspection, and so on, they have heretofore had only a limited range of contractor consultation and selection because of customers&#39; domiciles and communicational, transportational, temporal, and other constraints. Moreover, contractors in an identical sector from whom proposals can be obtained within a certain period of time for the sake of comparative examinations have also been limited in number.  
           [0005]    Meanwhile, due to office domiciles and communicational, transportational, temporal, and other constraints, agents who plan business operations on customers have also been limited in the range of sales contacts and in the number of scenes for accurately gathering customer needs to make proposals. In addition, the agents have had no choice but to simply disclose their own proposal presentations to an indefinite number of customers. That is, they have had a limited number of opportunities to demonstrate, through customer communication, their adaptability to the customer needs in comparison with other agents.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The prevent invention has been achieved to solve the conventional problems mentioned above. It is thus an object of the present invention to make the information collection between customers and agents smoother, expand the range of business operations by the agents, and increase the range of selections by the customers for more satisfactory agent selections.  
           [0007]    The foregoing object of the present invention has been achieved by the provision of a construction brokerage system comprising: customer information collecting means for collecting customer information including construction commission information from a customer who makes access through a communication line or the Internet; customer information disclosing means for disclosing the customer information onto the Internet; agent information collecting means for collecting agent information through a communication line or the Internet, the agent information including a proposal from an agent who has browsed the customer information disclosed; and agent information disclosing means for disclosing the agent information collected to the customer through a communication line or the Internet.  
           [0008]    Moreover, the customer information collecting means and the agent information collecting means comprise: a guiding unit for sending a guide message in response to the access from the customer and agent through a communication line or the Internet; a receiving unit for receiving communications or e-mails from the customer and agent; a data collecting unit for collecting the customer information and agent information from among responses and/or the contents of communications from the customer and agent; and a database for storing the collected information in a predetermined format. The customer information disclosing means and the agent information disclosing means comprise: a data summarizing and analyzing unit for reading the customer information and agent information stored in the database at predetermined time intervals for summarization and analysis; an information disclosing unit for disclosing the summarized and analyzed customer and agent information through a communication line or the Internet; and an information transmitting unit for transmitting the summarized and analyzed customer and agent information through a communication line or the Internet. This realizes the aforementioned construction brokerage system in a relatively simple configuration.  
           [0009]    Furthermore, the customer information collecting means and the agent information collecting means include a data collating unit for collating data received from the customer and agent with existing data to check for past inquiries and/or applications, as well as professional qualifications. This allows an precise check as to whether or not the agents and others have professional qualifications.  
           [0010]    In the present invention, customers who plan to have a building newly built, extended, rebuilt, or renovated, or to have interior renovations, kitchen renovations, and so on, or who plan to commission construction-related budgeting, financing consultation, purchase of real estate, interior design, construction design, selection of contractors, construction estimation, technical inspection, and so on, make a contractor search and/or disclose their commission request information through communication lines and/or the Internet, in such a form as an online audition or competition. Besides, proposals and the like from contractor candidates are disclosed also through the communication lines and/or the Internet, in such a form as online presentations. Therefore, the customers can select information of more contractors while the agents can grasp customer needs more accurately to enhance the range of their presentations. This makes the information collection between the customers and agents smoother, expands the range of business operations by the agents, and increase the range of selections by the customers for more satisfactory agent selections. As a result, it is possible to collect and select information and proposals of products, services, and ideas from a greater number of contractors, to determine contractors who are more suited to the requests. Besides, agents who wish to grasp these customer needs upon business operations for each project can conduct the information collection, bidding, and manifestation of participation into the audition and so on, to make project proposals more suitable for the customer requests.  
           [0011]    According to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained, aside from that it is possible to determine contractors such as construction specialists through auditions/competitions based on customer requests.  
           [0012]    The customers can obtain information about construction-related agents and products anytime on a 24-hour basis. They can also solicit a wide range of proposals and product information that better fit their requests. Furthermore, they can select construction specialists and products that better fit their requests.  
           [0013]    Meanwhile, construction specialists can directly respond to customer requests. Knowing the customer requests in detail, they can also achieve the development of products and the promotion of technologies which are backed by data. Besides, the upfront presence of commission requesters allows well-targeted business operations. Moreover, the proposals to the customers can be disclosed widely with an effect of public relations for other customers. The disclosed customer information can be analyzed to develop products in anticipation of consumer behavior. Furthermore, the collected customer information and construction specialist information are stored into the database, and thus can be utilized for a long-range strategy on advertisement and business operations.  
           [0014]    Moreover, the customers can place orders with different construction-work contractors who better meet their requests. Besides, the customers can commission other agents to manage decisions for construction works that better meet their requests. They can also commission construction specialists to inspect information as to the construction works that better meet their requests. They can also hold bidding for commissions that better meet their requests, to make a judgment on cost. Moreover, construction specialists themselves can solicit partners who better fit their needs. The customers can also purchase materials that better meet their requests. Even in remote locations, the customers can widely solicit excellent proposals that better meet their requests, to commission the construction specialists of the excellent proposals.  
           [0015]    Meanwhile, the construction specialists can make more effective business operations in a short time since the exchange of information through the communication lines and/or the Internet allows the disclosure of the information in a short time. Even in remote locations, they can make effective proposals and business operations that better meet customer requests, to increase the possibility of obtaining commission from the customers. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like embodiments have been noted throughout the figures with like reference numerals and wherein:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the construction brokerage system according to the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a flowchart for outlining the operation of the embodiment mentioned above;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a flowchart for detailing the essential part of the same;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a competition advertisement table of the customer need information employed in the above-mentioned embodiment;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an application guideline table;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a concrete example of application guidelines;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an agent overview;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of agent categories; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of lines of business. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]    Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a construction brokerage system  10  according to the present invention, which is capable of customer/agent information collection, disclosure, bidding, proposal audition/product information search, product purchase, specialist search/selection/commission, and so on.  
         [0028]    This embodiment includes a guiding unit  12 , a receiving unit  14 , a data converting unit  16 , a data collecting unit  18 , a data inquiry unit  20 , a database  22 , a database input managing unit  24 , a database summarizing and analyzing unit  26 , a database output managing unit  28 , an information disclosing unit  30 , and an information transmitting unit  32 .  
         [0029]    The guiding unit  12  sends guide messages and the like to customers and agents who make access from a computer  4  or a communication terminal  6  through communication lines and/or the Internet  8 .  
         [0030]    The receiving unit  14  receives communications and/or e-mails from the customers and agents.  
         [0031]    The data converting unit  16  converts the requests/replies from the customers, the replies from the agents, and the like into text or other forms.  
         [0032]    The data collecting unit  18  collects customer information and agent information based on the contents of the e-mails and the results of questionnaires.  
         [0033]    The data inquiry unit  20  collates the data received from the customers/agents with existing data.  
         [0034]    The database input managing unit  24  manages data input to the database  22  so that the information collected by the data collecting unit  18  is stored into the database  22  in a predetermined format.  
         [0035]    The database summarizing and analyzing unit  26  reads the customer and agent information stored in the database  22  at e.g. predetermined time intervals, to summarize and analyze the same under predetermined conditions.  
         [0036]    The database output managing unit  28  manages data retrieval from the database  22  so that the customer and agent information summarized and analyzed by the database summarizing and analyzing unit  26  is retrieved from the database  22 .  
         [0037]    The information disclosing unit  30  discloses the retrieved customer and agent information through the communication lines and/or the Internet  8 .  
         [0038]    The information transmitting unit  32  automatically transmits the retrieved customer and agent information to specified locations through the communication lines and/or the Internet  8 .  
         [0039]    Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 (whole) and FIG. 3 (details of the essential part).  
         [0040]    To operate the construction brokerage system  10  described above, newspaper ads and magazine ads are first issued with the phone number, Internet domain, and other information of the present system printed in the ads for the sake of material requests and inquiries. This allows customers who have seen the advertisements to make access freely to the present system through the communication lines and/or the Internet  8 . For the sake of clear explanation, description here will be given of the case where a customer who has seen the newspaper ads makes communications through the communication lines and/or the Internet  8 .  
         [0041]    Now, the customer sees the newspaper ad, and makes access to the present system through a communication line or the Internet  8  (step  100 ). The guiding unit  12  uses, for example, a guide page (FIG. 3) to provide the customer with directions for use and descriptions as to customer information (step  110 ). In the meantime, the data collecting unit  18  accepts customer information through the receiving unit  14  (step  120 ). Through successive guidance of the guiding unit  12  and the information disclosing unit  30 , customer requests are collected, and questionnaires and the like are conducted to collect/accept the customer information being communicated (step  130 ).  
         [0042]    That is, upon the arrival of a call on the communication line from the customer, the guiding unit  12  and the information disclosing unit  30  search for the customer-required information and/or provide guidance as to the reception of requests, and if necessary, disclose construction specialist information including presentations by construction specialists and product information (step  140 ). If there is found the required information (step  150 ), the processing moves to the registration process for registering the customer&#39;s material destination address, the user identification, and the like (step  160 ).  
         [0043]    On the other hand, if the customer-required information or -requested contractor is not found in the information disclosing unit  30 , or if the customer wishes to select other dealers/contractors, the guiding unit  12  executes the procedures for entering and transmitting request information and/or advertisement information for contractors, followed by the audition entry/competition entry (step  170 ). This customer request information is collected to the data collecting unit  18 . The customer request information collected is sent to the database input managing unit  24 . It is summarized into such a data format as shown in FIG. 4 (an example of a competition advertisement table), FIG. 5 (an example of an application guideline table), and FIG. 6 (a concrete example of the same), before stored into a predetermined location on the database  22  as customer request information (step  180 ).  
         [0044]    Then, the information disclosing unit  30  discloses this customer request information to construction specialists, suppliers, dealers and others, thereby soliciting proposals and bidding widely under predetermined conditions, periods, and so on (step  190 ).  
         [0045]    Construction specialists browse the disclosed customer request information and audition/competition information, and make access through communication lines and/or the Internet  8  (step  200 ). The guiding unit  12  and the information disclosing unit  30  confirm material destinations through the entry of construction specialist information (name, address, contacts, and so on) (step  210 ), register user identifications through the registration for use and the confirmation of the registered names based on the construction specialist information (step  220 ), and verify the construction-related sectors through the entry of construction-related sectors, qualifications, authorization, registered numbers, and so forth (step  230 ). Then, the guiding unit  12  and the information disclosing unit  30  provide the construction specialists with guidance as to the retrieval of customer-soliciting information and the reception of proposals. If necessary, there follow the steps of guiding how to open a competition (step  240 ), guiding how to enter the details for application (step  250 ), and entering property proposals, application track records, proposal bidding, periods of proposal validity, and so on (step  260 ). Then, the details of the customer information and the information of the predetermined conditions, periods, and the like are disclosed. The disclosed information is verified through the confirmation of the competition opening (step  270 ). If necessary, other information services are advised (step  280 ) before the processing moves to the process for registering the information notification addresses and the like of the construction specialists (step  290 ).  
         [0046]    Here, to check the national licenses, registered licenses, and the like of the construction specialists, the receiving unit  14  carries out the entry of qualifications, registration information, and so on. The data inquiry unit  20  checks the classification and registration of the construction specialists (step  300 ).  
         [0047]    The database input managing unit  24  summarizes the checked data into a data format as shown in FIG. 7 (an example of an agent overview), FIG. 8 (an example of agent categories), or FIG. 9 (an example of lines of business), before stored into a predetermined location on the database  22  as agent information (step  310 ).  
         [0048]    Through such a series of procedures, the construction specialists make proposals for the customer requests, in a predetermined format guided by the information disclosing unit  30 . The proposal information is transmitted/delivered to the customer who holds the audition or competition (step  320 ). The customer selects/determines the necessary information and contractor(s) from among the proposals collected, and returns the result through the communication lines and/or the Internet  8 . The returned information is accepted by the receiving unit  14  (step  330 ). It is summarized into a predetermined data format by the database input managing unit  24 , and stored into a predetermined location on the database  22  (step  340 ). The result of this audition/competition is disclosed by the information disclosing unit  30 . If requested, the result is also transmitted to the customer and/or the construction specialists.  
         [0049]    In this way, the present system continuously accepts communication from customers on a 24-hours basis, to collect the information of the customers. Then, at every predetermined time, all the customer information collected is summarized and subjected to contents analysis, and the results of the summarization and analysis are sent to specified locations. Meanwhile, on a 24-hour basis without a break, customer requests are collected and disclosed to accept construction specialists applying for the requests; proposals are accepted in the forms of audition, competition, bidding, and the like, and the contents thereof are collected. Within a predetermined period of time, all the application and proposal information is transmitted/delivered to the customers soliciting construction specialists and to specified locations.  
         [0050]    In this way, the customers can easily search, select, and determine contractors through the communication lines, the Internet, and so on. Besides, the range and scale of selection, which have been limited heretofore, can be increased dramatically. Moreover, commissions to construction specialists can be tailored yet closer to the requests, and the contents of the commissions can be subjected to comparative examinations. This leads to proposals of higher quality and products of a wider range of selection. On the other hand, for construction specialists, agents, and suppliers, it is possible to know the details of the customer requests to reflect the same to product development. Besides, it is possible to target prospective clients in advance for effective business operations. Moreover, the provision of a setting for comparing construction specialists&#39; skills prepares the way for further enhancement of their skills. Furthermore, since the audition and competition results are disclosed, customer requests can be grasped better for immediate reflection to future advertisements and business operations. This allows delicate product development, business operations, and enhancement of skills.  
         [0051]    The applications of the present system include commissions for the following: budgeting, financing, purchase of land, purchase of secondhand houses, purchase of new properties, purchase of structural materials, purchase of finishing materials, purchase of imported materials, drawing and design of new properties, drawing and design of extended/rebuilt properties, drawing and design of renovated properties, drawing and design of furniture and interiors, drawing and design of gardening, drawing and design of lighting, drawing and design of coloring, drawing and design of structures, drawing and design of equipment, construction of new properties, construction of extended/rebuilt properties, construction of renovated properties, execution of furniture and interior works, execution of gardening works, selection of healthy house systems and materials, execution of lighting works, execution of painter&#39;s works, execution of structural works, execution of equipment works, construction management, and judgment of construction estimation.  
         [0052]    Note that the above-mentioned service details are one example. In various other sectors and categories of construction business, the information collection and agent auditions/competitions can be conducted according to conditions and based on requested commissions.  
         [0053]    Moreover, the present system is also applicable to the cases of selling products proposed by individual sectors, through mail orders via the communication lines and/or the Internet.  
         [0054]    It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative which represent the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.