Abstract:
An automatic planning apparatus comprises a WWW server and an application server which are connected to many clients through the Internet. The clients are operated by the users. The application server creates and asks some questions to the user. The user answers the questions. The answers are analyzed to determine the character. Certain initial conditions are input by the user or some other person. The application server automatically creates a schedule for the preparation of an event desired by the users after taking the input initial conditions and the character of the user into consideration.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an automatic planning apparatus and a computer product contained a program used to automatically construct a schedule for an event taking the character of the user into account. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the conventional practice of planning a given event, a planner collects the required information from magazines, home pages, etc. and constructs a schedule based on the information after trials and errors. This conventional practice is accompanied by various jobs and the very work of constructing a schedule is cumbersome, which often leads to a planning failure. When constructing a life cycle plan, for example, a very troublesome planning is required for each separate item of events of different types such as marriage, purchase of a residential house, education, etc. In view of this, it has been earnestly desired to develop an apparatus and a method by which the planning job can be easily carried out and the service of constructing a total planning including the life cycle plan can be offered. 
     Thus, in the conventional practice, a planner collects the required information from magazines, home pages, etc., and based on this information, constructs a plan for a given event (such as marriage, childbirth, purchase of a house or a funeral). Especially when using the home pages, the planner browses the home pages related to the event using a search engine while collecting the required information (names and addresses of suppliers, cost, delivery time, etc.). 
     An actual plan is discussed from all the angles taking the budget and schedule based on the information collected from homes pages, etc. into account. Usually, the result of planning is noted down in a diary having a calendar or stored in an electronic notebook or a computer as an electronic file. The planner, after checking the schedule in the diary and other references, takes an action and executes the plan by reserving or purchasing items for the particular event. 
     An event reservation system which enables the preparation for an event to be promoted positively is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 11-120237. This event reservation system has a configuration of client/server type, and if there is any item that need to be taken care of before and/or after an event, the fact is notified to the client of the user through the Internet. 
     Thus, conventionally, the planner is required to carry out such troublesome work as collection of information, reservation and schedule management. The amount of workload on the planner disadvantageously increases in proportion to the scale of the proposed event. 
     When collecting the information using home pages, on the other hand, the fact that each home page is independent makes it necessary to collect information over a plurality of home pages. In addition, this job is inconvenient as individual homes pages must be opened once again separately when making a reservation or a purchase for the event. When the result of planning is stored on a paper in the form of a diary, there is a great likelihood that the diary is lost. Further, the prior art lacks the service of totally supporting the life cycle planning or the like service. 
     The event reservation system disclosed in JP-A No. 11-120237 is effective simply for keeping the preparation for the event in memory. In any way, the planner must construct a plan by himself (or herself), and therefore none of the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages are obviated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic planning apparatus and a computer product containing a program permitting the user to construct a plan positively in a way suitable to him in simplistic fashion while at the same time improving the convenience and the operating ease on the part of the user. 
     In order to achieve the object described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, an automatic planning apparatus is connected to at least one client through the Internet. The clients are operated by the users. A questionnaire unit creates and asks some questions to the user. The user answers the questions and also inputs certain initial conditions required for preparation and execution of the event. An analysis unit analyzes the answers to the questions and determines a property of the user. A planning unit automatically creates a schedule for the preparation of an event desired by the users after taking the input initial conditions and the property of the user into consideration. Thus, the present invention permits a plan to be automatically formed simply by answering a questionnaire and inputting the required initial conditions. 
     Further, the plan data corresponding to the user pattern is stored in a storage unit in advance and a schedule is formed according to the stored plan data. 
     Further, upon request from the user, the planning unit supplies the user with detailed data in addition to the plan data. 
     Further, a reporting unit notifies the user of the items to be processed by the user in the schedule and also manages the results of planning. Therefore, the user can process the particular items positively, and the user is not required to maintain the results in diary or the like. 
     Further, a reservation unit receives the reservation from the user in the case where the schedule contains any items to be reserved beforehand. 
     Further, a purchase unit receives a request for the purchase of an article and/or service from the user in the case where the schedule contains any items for which the article and/or the service, as the case may be, is to be received. 
     Further, a payment unit receives the on-line payment of the charge accrued in the purchase of an article and/or a service. 
     Further, the event is one of various life cycle events and the planning unit forms a schedule for the jobs ranging from the preparation for to the execution of the various events in the life cycle of the user. The events such as marriage, child birth, purchase of a house, funeral, etc. can be considered. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium stores instructions, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of, creating and providing a questionnaire to a user for analysis of the user through said network; analyzing the user based on a predetermined analysis method by considering the answers to the questionnaire; inputting initial conditions required for executing the planning for an event desired by the user; and planning a schedule for the preparation and execution of the event based on the input initial conditions and the analysis of the user. Thus the method can be easily and automatically executed on a computer. 
     Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an example of the member data base DB 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example of the main plan data base DB 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of the member plan data base DB 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of the member-only calendar data base DB 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of the questionnaire data base DB 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of the ceremonial hall data base DB 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of the hall charge data base DB 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an example of the hall reservation situation data base DB 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing an example of the commodity data base DB 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing an example of the plan item data base DB 10 . 
         FIG. 12A  is a diagram showing an example of the weight data base DB 11  and  FIG. 12B  is an example of the weight data base DB 12 . 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart for explaining the operation. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram showing an example of the log-in screen G 1 . 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram showing an example of the membership registration screen G 2 . 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram showing an example of the main screen G 3 . 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram showing an example of the condition item input processing screen G 4 . 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram showing an example of the result of analysis of the character shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 19  is a detailed flowchart of the character analysis process shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating the output value Y j  in the hidden layer and the output value Z k  in the output layer shown in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is a detailed flowchart of the event plan creation process shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 22  is a detailed flowchart of the holiday item planning process shown in  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 23  is a detailed flowchart of the planning process when the preparation period is limited, shown in  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 24  is a detailed flowchart of the planning process when the preparation period is not limited shown in  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 25  is a detailed flowchart of the plan display process shown in  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 26  is a diagram showing an example of the plan display screen G 5 . 
         FIG. 27  is a diagram showing an example of the detailed display screen G 6 . 
         FIG. 28  is a detailed flowchart for explaining the reservation process shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 29  is a detailed flowchart for explaining the purchase process shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 30  is a diagram showing an example of the plan display screen G 7  and the plan detail display screen G 8 . 
         FIG. 31  is a block diagram showing a modification of the same embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An automatic planning apparatus and a computer readable recording medium for recording an automatic planning program according to the present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  shows a system which provides a service that supports the life cycle plan of the user through a portal site installed on the Web. The life cycle plan means a plan of the events almost all the humans are expected to encounter during their life (such as the wedding ceremony, purchase of the residential house, child birth, education, adults&#39; day ceremony, starting the career, funeral, etc.). As described in detail later, this embodiment has the feature that the planning that has thus far been performed by the user  100  is performed by the service provider  300 . 
     A client/server system interconnected through the Internet N is shown in  FIG. 1  as a means for providing the services described above. Clients  110 A to  110 E are computer terminals arranged on the side of the users A to E, respectively, on the user side  100 . These clients  110 A to  110 E are connected with display units  120 A to  120 E, respectively, for displaying the web page supplied at the portal site. 
     The LCD (liquid crystal display) unit or the CRT (cathode ray tube) is used as the display units  120 A to  120 E. Each of the clients  110 A to  110 E can access the web page supplied at the portal site by accessing the WWW (World Wide Web) server  310  through the Internet N based on the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for specifying the portal site on the WWW server  310 . Thus, the users can browse the web pages. At the time of browsing, a program called the browser, for example, is activated which can open files in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) format. 
     A portable terminal  110 F is carried by the user F, and accesses the WWW server  310  through the Internet N due to the communication function based on TCP/IP. The portable terminal  110 F includes a portable telephone terminal with a browser and a portable information equipment called PDA (Personal Digital Assistance). TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is used as the communication protocol of the clients  110 A to  110 E and the portable terminal  110 F. 
     In the event agency  200 , the detailed information server  210  provides the detailed information required for holding an event. An event is a wedding ceremony, purchase of a house, child birth, the funeral, etc. in the life cycle plan. Thus, the event agency includes the marriage related agents, real estate companies, hospitals and funeral parlors. Take the wedding ceremony as an example of the event. The detailed information on this event includes the name of the where the ceremony is held hall, the zip code, the address, the telephone number and various charges. A reservation server  220  manages the reservation for various items (including the rent of the hall and the wedding dress) for the wedding ceremony through the Internet N. 
     In the service provider  300 , a WWW server  310  is provides the portal site to the users A to F, and it is accessed by the clients  110 A to  110 E and the portable terminal  110 F through the Internet N. In this way, the WWW server  310  is installed in a public area accessible from outside. 
     A security server  320  is arranged between the public area and the non-public area in the service provider  300 , and functions as a fire wall. The security server  320  prohibits the access from the external client  110 A to the application server  330  installed in the non-public area on the one hand, and permits the access from an application server  330  provided internally to the WWW server  310 . 
     The application server  330  executes various processes required for administration of the portal site using the member data bases DB 1  to the weight data base DB 12  stored in the storage unit  340 . This application server  330  is connected to the payment system  410  through a dedicated line L. This payment system  410  is provided at the payment agency  400  and settles the account on-line by a credit card. The operation of the application server  330  will be explained in detail later. 
     The member data base DB 1  shown in  FIG. 2  includes the basic information on the members (users) registered in the portal site supplied from the WWW server  310 . Specifically, in the member data base DB 1 , a record having the fields of the membership ID, password, name, age, sex, zip code, address, date of birth and telephone number is stored for each member. 
     The membership ID is a unique identifier assigned to each member and used for identifying the particular member among a plurality of members. The password is used for authenticating the user at the time of log-in to the portal site. For example, a member having the membership ID of ZZZZZ, password “etobaoba”, name Taro Nihon, age 26, sex male, zip code 35101354, address No. 1, Hon-cho 1-1, Wako City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, date of birth Oct. 6, 1973, and telephone number 0486532145 are recorded. The main data base DB 2  to the weight data base DB 12  shown in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 12  will be described in detail later. 
     Operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 13 . The description is made below with reference to the case in which the user A shown in  FIG. 1  can receive various services by use of the portal site. In  FIG. 1 , the user A, after causing the client  110 A to access the Internet N by dial up, inputs the URL of the portal site on the WWW server  310  by way of the keyboard (not shown). As a result, the client  110 A is connected with the WWW server  310  through the Internet N, so that the application server  330  proceeds to step SA 1  shown in  FIG. 13  and executes the log-in process. 
     In other words, in step SA 1 , the log-in screen G 1  shown in  FIG. 14  is displayed on the display unit  120 A of the client  110 A. An ID input column corresponding to the membership ID (see  FIG. 2 ), a password input column corresponding to the password (see  FIG. 2 ), a log-in soft button LG for indicating the log-in and a soft button NEW for registering a new member or not are displayed on the log-in display screen G 1 . 
     Assume that the user A has been already registered as a member. The user A enters “ZZZZZ” as the membership ID in the ID input column shown in  FIG. 14 , the password “etobaoba” in the password input column, and then clicks the log-in soft button LG using a not shown mouse. 
     As a result, the application server  330  proceeds to step SA 2 , at which the member database DB 1  shown in  FIG. 2  is compared with the ID number and the password input by the user A thereby to determine whether the user A is the member or not. In this case, the member ID of ZZZZZ, the password “etobaoba” in the member data base DB 1  shown in  FIG. 2  coincide with the membership ID of ZZZZZ and the password “etobaoba” input by the user A, and therefore the result of determination in step SA 2  will be YES. 
     If the user A clicks the new member registration soft button NEW on the log-in screen G 1  shown in  FIG. 14 , on the other hand, the result of determination in step SA 2  will be NO. In this case the application server  330  proceeds to step SA 3  and executes the member registration process. In other words, the member registration screen G 2  shown in  FIG. 15  is displayed on the display unit  120 A of the client  110 A in step SA 3 . 
     This member registration screen G 2  has an ID input column for inputting the membership ID (see  FIG. 2 ), a password input column for inputting the password (see  FIG. 2 ), a password reentry column, an E-mail input column for inputting the E-mail address, a name input column, a zip code input column, an address input column, a sex input column, a data of birth input column, a line of business input column, a type of job input column and a registration soft button T. 
     The user A inputs the information about himself in the respective input columns on the member registration screen G 2  using the keyboard, and then clicks the registration soft button T using the mouse. As a result, the application server  330  registers the information input by the user A in the member data base DB 1 . The application server  330  then sends a message indicating the end of the registration process to the client  110 A through the Internet N, and returns to the process in step SA 1 . 
     In step SA 4 , on the other hand, the main screen G 3  for the life cycle plan shown in  FIG. 16  is displayed on the display unit  120 A of the user A who has completed the log-in. This main screen G 3  has displayed thereon the marriage item M 1 , the house item M 2 , . . . , the funeral item Mn, etc. corresponding to the wedding ceremony, the purchase of a house, . . . and the funeral, respectively, as events which the user of the portal site may encounter in his (or her) life. Further, the main screen G 3  has displayed thereon the scheduler function select soft button B 1 , the check list function select soft button B 2 , the fund/cost management function select soft button B 3  and the simulation function select soft button B 4 . 
     The scheduler function select button B 1  is clicked when the scheduler function is selected. The scheduler function is for scheduling the events for each user in time series. The check list function select soft button B 2  is clicked when the check list function is selected. The check list function includes the function of producing a list of preparatory matters to be executed by the user for executing an event (such as a wedding ceremony) and the function attaching a check mark to the matters that have been executed in this list. This check list function is for preventing the failure of the preparatory matters by accurately grasping the progress of the matters required to be performed for executing an event. 
     The fund/cost management function select soft button B 3  is clicked when selecting the fund/cost management function. This fund/cost management function is for managing the fund, expenses and budget for executing an event. Take the wedding ceremony as an example of the event. The items managed by the fund/cost management function include the total asset, minimum amount of expenses, budget and the receipts and disbursements. 
     The total asset is the total sum of the amount saved by the two who are going to marry and the money sent from their parents in assistance. The minimum amount of expenses is the total sum of the living cost and the insurance premiums required for the two persons before marriage. The budget is an estimated amount of the preparatory cost for the marriage. The receipts and disbursements is the budget and the actual expense. The simulation function select soft button B 4  is clicked when selecting the simulation function. This simulation function is for simulating a series of matters from the preparation to the execution of the event planned by animation. 
     Once the main screen G 3  is displayed on the display unit  120 A, the application server  330  proceeds to step SA 5  and determines whether the event is selected or not. Specifically, the application server  330  determines whether any of the marriage item M 1  to the funeral item Mn shown in  FIG. 16  has been clicked. In the case where the marriage item M 1  is clicked by the user A, for example, the application server  330  determines “YES” the answer in step SA 5 . 
     In step SA 11 , the application server  330  accesses the member plan data base DB 3  (see  FIG. 4 ) and determines whether the member plan exclusive to the user A is registered in the member plan database DB 3 . Since marriage is taken as an example of the event, the member plan is for the marriage of the user A. In the member plan data base DB 3  shown in  FIG. 4 , a record configured with the fields including the item code, the scheduled date of executing the plan, the note whether the plan is executed or not, the budget for the plan and the ratio of the budget for the plan which represents of the total budget amount is stored for each item code. 
     Assume that the member plan exclusive to the user A is not registered in the member plan data base DB 3 . The application server  330  determines “NO” as the answer in step SA 11 , and proceeds to step SA 12 . In the case where the determination in step SA 11  is “YES”, the application server  330  proceeds to step SA 6 . 
     In step SA 12 , the application server  330  accesses the member data base DB 1  shown in  FIG. 2  and after thus acquiring the member information with the membership ID (=ZZZZZ) of the user A as a key, proceeds to step SA 13 . The member information thus acquired includes the name (Taro Nihon), age (26), sex (male), address (No. 1, Kasumigaseki 1-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), zip code (35101354), date of birth (Oct. 6, 1973) and telephone number (0300001111). 
     In step SA 13 , the application server  330  executes the condition item input process for causing the user A to input the condition items required for planning an event (wedding ceremony in this case). As a result, the condition item input processing screen G 4  shown in  FIG. 17  is displayed on the display unit  120 A of the user A. The condition item input processing screen G 4  has displayed thereon the title (“automatic planning of a marriage ceremony”), a scheduled date input column for inputting the scheduled date of the marriage, a total budget input column for inputting the budget for the marriage, a holiday setting column for setting holidays of the user A. A completion soft button F is provided which is clicked upon input of the all the items. 
     In the case under consideration, the user A enters the scheduled date of marriage and the total budget in the scheduled date input column and the total budget input column, respectively, on the condition item input processing screen G 4  using the keyboard or the mouse. Further, the user A sets Saturday and Sunday as the holidays in the holiday setting column using the mouse, and then clicks the completion soft button F using the mouse. 
     In step SA 14 , the application server  330 , based on the holidays input by the user A set in step SA 13 , produces a member-only calendar including the date and the attribute thereof (holiday or week day) as shown in  FIG. 5 . This member-only calendar is specially customized taking the holidays and week days unique to the user A into consideration. Then, the application server  330  relates the member-only calendar to the membership ID of the user A and registers it in the member-only calendar data base DB 4  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In step SA 15 , the application server  330  determines whether the character analysis process is selected by the user A or not. This character analysis process is for analyzing the character of the user A from the answers to a questionnaire for character analysis, for example. This questionnaire will be explained in detail with reference to step SA 16  later. Soft buttons for selecting whether the character analysis process is to be performed or not is displayed on the display unit  120 A of the user A. Assuming that the soft button indicating that the character analysis process is not to be performed is clicked by the user A using the mouse, the application server  330  determines “NO” as the answer in step SA 15  and proceeds to step SA 18 . 
     Assume that the user A clicks the soft button which commands that the character analysis process is to be performed. In this case, the application server  330  determines the answer in step SA 15  as “YES”. In step SA 16 , the application server  330  executes the questionnaire input process for causing the user A to input the answers to the character analysis questionnaire. 
     Specifically, in step SA 16 , the application server  330  acquires the questionnaire information from the questionnaire data base DB 5  (see  FIG. 6 ), and outputs it to the WWW server  310  through the security server  320 . The questionnaire data base DB 5  shown in  FIG. 6  includes the questionnaire information required for causing the user to answer the character analysis questionnaire. 
     In the questionnaire data base DB 5 , a record configured with the fields of ID, item, file type, file name, choice A, choice B, choice C, choice D and choice E is stored for each ID. The ID is an identifier attached to each of a plurality of the questionnaires. The items indicate specific contents of the questionnaire. The file type is the type of the file storing the questionnaire. The file name is the name of the file storing the questionnaire. The choices A to E correspond to those choices for giving an answer to the questionnaire of multiple answer type. 
     As to the record with ID of 1, for example, the item is “Do you ever give your opinion when others are speaking?”, the file type is the still image, the file name is q0001, the choice A is “YES”, the choice B is “NO”, the choices C, D and E are NULL. 
     When the questionnaire information on this record is output to the WWW server  310 , therefore, the question “Do you ever give your opinion when others are speaking?”, a soft button for selecting “YES” and a soft button for selecting “NO” are displayed on the display unit  120 A of the user A. In other words, the questionnaire of ID of 1 is of alternative type for selecting one of the two answers “YES” and “NO”. In the case under consideration, the user A selects “YES” as the answer to the question of ID of 1. 
     The contents of the questionnaire and the choices including and subsequent to ID of 2 shown in  FIG. 6  are displayed on the display unit  120 A of the user A. At the same time, as the user A selects a choice, the questionnaire is answered. Upon giving an answer to the questionnaire of ID of 125 shown in  FIG. 6 , the application server  330  proceeds to step SA 17  for executing the character analysis process. 
     This character analysis process is for analyzing the character of the user A using the answers of the questionnaire in step SA 16  and the neural network shown in  FIG. 20 , and the result of analysis is indicated by a pentagonal radar chart shown in  FIG. 18 . This radar chart is for expressing five factors of the human character including affection, sincerity, delicacy, action and courage. Further, each of affection, sincerity, delicacy, action and courage is expressed in three levels of 1 to 3. Thus, there are 243 (3 5 ) combinations of the three levels and the five factors. 
     The character analysis process in step SA 17  will be explained here in detail with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 19 . In step SB 1  of  FIG. 19 , the application server  330  acquires the questionnaire information configured with the answers to the questionnaire given by the user A in step SA 16  of  FIG. 13  from the WWW server  310 . 
     In step SB 2 , the application server  330  substitutes a value (0 or 1) into the input value X i  (i=1 to 5) of the neural network shown in  FIG. 20 . In the neural network, a value is substituted into the input value X i  in the input layer thereby to calculate the output value Y j  (j=1 to 7) in the hidden layer, after which the output value Z k  (k=1 to 5) in the output layer is calculated. The input values X 1  to X 5  in the input layer correspond to the choices A to E, respectively, shown in  FIG. 6 . Also, in the case where the user A selects one of the choices A to E, the value 1 is substituted into the input value X i  corresponding to the particular choice. For the choices not selected, on the other hand, 0 is substituted into the input value X i . 
     In the case of 1D of 1, the choice A is selected, but none of the other choices B to E (NULL indicates no selection) is selected. Thus, for the questionnaire items corresponding to ID=1, the values 1, 0, 0, 0, 0 are substituted into the input values X 1  to X 5 , respectively, shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     In the next step SB 3 , the application server  330  calculates the output value Y j  (Y 1  to Y 7 ) in the hidden layer shown in  FIG. 20  from equation (1) below. 
                           Y   j     =       ⁢     f   ⁡     (       (     ∑       X   i     ·     w   ij         )     -     θ   j       )                   =       ⁢     1   /     (     1   +     exp   ⁢           ⁢     (     -     ∑       X   i     ·     w   ij           )       -     θ   j       )                       (   1   )             
 
     In equation (1), X i  designates the input value in the input layer, and θ j  designates a threshold value. The right side is the sigmoid function. The character w ij  designates the coupling weight between the input layer and the hidden layer, and is preset by the weight data base DB 11  shown in  FIG. 12A . In other words, the suffix i in the coupling weight w ij  corresponds to the suffix i of the input value X i  of the input layer shown in  FIG. 20 , and the suffix j corresponds to the suffix j of the output value Y j  of the hidden layer. 
     Thus, the character w 11  shown in  FIG. 20  designates the coupling weight between the input value X 1  (suffix i=1) of the input layer and the output value Y 1  (suffix j=1) of the hidden layer. This coupling weight w 11  assumes 1.20 for ID of 1 from the weight data base DB 11  shown in  FIG. 12A  since i=1 and j=1. The value ID shown in  FIG. 12A  corresponds to ID shown in  FIG. 6 . In similar fashion, the coupling weights w 12 , w 13 , and so forth shown in  FIG. 20  assume the values of 0.95, 0.45 and so forth, respectively, for ID of 1 from the weight data base DB 11 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 12A , in the case where ID=1 and j=1, the threshold value θ 1  is 15.2. 
     The coupling weight w ji  and the threshold value θ j  in the weight data base DB 11  shown in  FIG. 12A  are determined from the values learned using the learning method for the neural network (the back propagation method, for example). In this way, the application server  330  calculates the output values Y j  (Y 1  to Y 7 ) of the hidden layer from equation (1) for the questionnaire items corresponding to ID=1 shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In step SB 4 , the application server  330  calculates the output value Z k  (Z 1  to Z 5 ) of the output layer shown in  FIG. 20  from equation (2) below. 
                     Z   k     =       ⁢     f   ⁡     (       (     Σ   ⁢           ⁢       Y   j     ·     W   jk         )     -     θ   k   ′       )                   =       ⁢     1   /     (     1   +     exp   ⁡     (       -   Σ     ⁢           ⁢       Y   j     ·     W   jk         )       -     θ   k       )                     (   2   )             
 
     The output values Z 1  to Z 5  of the output layer correspond to the affection, sincerity, delicacy, action and courage, respectively, shown in  FIG. 18  and values in real number in the range of 0 to 1. In equation (2), Y j  designates an output value in the hidden layer, θ k  a threshold value, and W jk  the coupling weight between the hidden layer and the output layer. The coupling weight W jk  is preset by the weight data base DB 12  shown in  FIG. 12B . In other words, the suffix j in the coupling weight W jk  corresponds to the suffix j of the output value Y j  of the hidden layer shown in  FIG. 20 , and the suffix k corresponds to the suffix k of the output value Z k  of the output layer. 
     Thus, W 11  shown in  FIG. 20  is the coupling weight between the input value Y 1  (suffix j=1) of the hidden layer and the output value Z 1  (suffix k=1) of the output layer. This coupling weight w 11  assumes a value of 0.4 for ID of 1 from the weight data base DB 12  shown in  FIG. 12B  since j=1 and k=1. In similar fashion, the coupling weights W 12  W 13 , and so forth shown in  FIG. 20  assume the values of 0.5, 0.4 and so forth, respectively, for ID of 1 from the weight data base DB 12 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 12B , in the case where ID=1 and k=1, the threshold value θ 1  is 38.2. 
     The coupling weight W jk  and the threshold value θ k  in the weight data base DB 12  shown in  FIG. 12B  are determined from the values learned using the learning method for the neural network (the back propagation method, for example). In this way, the application server  330  calculates the output values Z k  (Z 1  to Z 5 ) of the output layer from equation (2) for the questionnaire items corresponding to ID=1 shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In step SB 5 , the application server  330  determines whether the calculation up to steps SB 2  to SB 4  is complete or not for the last questionnaire item (ID=125 in this case) in the questionnaire data base DB 5  shown in  FIG. 6 . Since the answer is “NO”, the application server  330  proceeds to step SB 6 . In step SB 6 , the application server  330  selects the next questionnaire item (ID=2 in this case), and then returns to step SB 2 . After that, the application server  330  sequentially executes the calculation in steps SB 2  to SB 4  for the questionnaire items including and subsequent to ID=2. 
     Upon completing the calculation for the last questionnaire item shown in  FIG. 6 , the application server  330  determines the answer as “YES” in step SB 5 . In step SB 7 , the application server  330  calculates the average value of the output values Z k  (k=1 to 5) calculated in step SB 4 . 
     Specifically, the average value of a total of 125 output values Z 1  corresponding to ID of 1 to 125, respectively, are calculated. The average value of the output value Z 1  corresponds to affection shown in  FIG. 18 . Also, the average value of a total of 125 output values Z 2  corresponding to ID of 1 to 125, respectively, is calculated. This average value of the output value Z 2  corresponds to sincerity shown in  FIG. 18 . In similar fashion, the average value of the output value Z 3  (delicacy), the average value of the output value Z 4  (action) and the average value of the output value Z 5  (courage) are calculated, respectively. 
     In the next step SB 8 , the application server  330  classifies the average values of the output values Z 1  to Z 5  calculated in step SB 7  into an appropriate one of levels 1 to 3 shown in  FIG. 18 , and then proceeds to step SB 9 . Since the average value assumes a value of real number in the range of 0 to 1, level 1 is in the range of ⅔ to 1 inclusive, level 2 in the range of ⅓ to ⅔ not inclusive, and level 3 in the range of 0 to ⅓ not inclusive. Assuming that the average values of the output values Z 1  to Z 5  are as follow, the corresponding levels are given as 
                   (     Average   ⁢           ⁢   value   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   output   ⁢           ⁢     Z   k       )           (   Level   )                 Average   ⁢           ⁢   value   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   output   ⁢           ⁢     Z   1     ⁢           ⁢     (   affection   )       =   0.8         1               Average   ⁢           ⁢   value   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   output   ⁢           ⁢     Z   2     ⁢           ⁢     (   sincerity   )       =   0.66         1               Average   ⁢           ⁢   value   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   output   ⁢           ⁢     Z   3     ⁢           ⁢     (   delicacy   )       =   0.4         2               Average   ⁢           ⁢   value   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   output   ⁢           ⁢     Z   4     ⁢           ⁢     (   action   )       =   0.71                             Average   ⁢           ⁢   value   ⁢           ⁢   of   ⁢           ⁢   output   ⁢           ⁢     Z   5     ⁢           ⁢     (   courage   )       =   0.7         1             
 
     In step SB 9 , the application server  330  extracts the pattern of the character of the user A (hereinafter referred to as the character pattern) from the classification result in step SB 8 , and proceeds to step SB 10 . The character pattern as referred to herein is an enumeration of levels of affection, sincerity, delicacy, action and courage shown in  FIG. 18 . In this case, the affection is level 1, the sincerity is level 1, the delicacy is level 2, the action is level 1 and the courage is level 1. Thus, the character pattern of the user is “11211”. As far as the user A is concerned, however, the explanation will be continued on the assumption that the character pattern of “11111” has been extracted. 
     In step SB 10 , the application server  330  extracts a marriage plan adapted to the character of the user from the main plan data base DB 2  with the character pattern extracted in step SB 9  as a key. The main plan data base DB 2  shown in  FIG. 3  is the one for the plan corresponding to the character pattern. In this main plan data base DB 2 , a record including the fields of plan code, character pattern, minimum preparation period and the pointer to the plan item data base is stored for each plan code. 
     The plan code is the code attached to a particular plan, the character pattern is that of the user (11111 to 33333), and the minimum preparation period is the minimum number of days expected to be required for preparation of the particular plan (the wedding ceremony in this case). The reason why the minimum preparation period is varied in this case is that the character of the user (carefree type or energetic type) is taken into account. 
     Specifically, in the plan of the user having the carefree character, a long minimum preparation period is set, while the minimum preparation period of the plan for the user having an energetic character is set to a short length. The pointer to the plan item data base is for indicating the storage area to store the plan item data base DB 10  shown in  FIG. 11 . For the plan code of 001, for example, the character pattern is set to 11111, the minimum preparation period is set to 186 (days), and the pointer to the plan item data base is set to PPA. Also, the pointer PPA to the plan code of 001 in  FIG. 3  is the pointer to the plan item data base DB 10  shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     In  FIG. 11 , the plan item data base DB 10  is the data base including the detailed plan items (the items for marriage in this case) corresponding to the character pattern of 11111. In this plan item data base DB 10 , a record including the fields of ID, code, attribute, level, class, designation, maximum number of days for preparation, cost ratio and detailed information link destination is stored for each ID. 
     The ID and the code are attached to the plan item, and the attribute indicates the specific contents of the plan item. The level indicates whether the particular plan item is displayed or not according to the length of the display period (June 1999 to December 1999 in the shown case) on the plan display screen G 5 . Specifically, in the case where the display period is long, the level of the particular plan item is set to 1, while in the case of a short display period, the level of the particular plan is set to 2. The class indicates the classification of the particular plan item. 
     The designation indicates the one as to whether the day of execution of the plan corresponding to the plan item is a holiday or not. The item of this designation is input by the user. The maximum number of days for preparation indicates the maximum number of days expected to be required for the preparation of the plan corresponding to the particular plan item. The maximum number of days for preparation=999999, indicates that the starting day of preparation is not limited. The cost ratio indicates the ratio of the cost corresponding to the particular item which represents of the total budget. In the case where the user is associated with the bridegroom, for example, the cost ratio is that of the cost to be burdened by the bridegroom side. The detailed information link destination is the URL for designating the site providing the detailed information on the plan item. 
     When ID is 1, for example, the code is set to 000132, the attribute requires that “the style, size and budget for the wedding ceremony and the wedding party are determined by discussion”, the level is set to 1, the designation is “nil”, the maximum number of days for preparation is 999999, the cost ratio is 0.00%, and the detailed information link destination is defined as http://www.xxx.co.jp/life/abc/def.html. Also, each record of the plan item data base DB 10  corresponds to each record of the member plan data base DB 3  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In the case under consideration, the character pattern of the user A is “11111” in step SB 10  and therefore, the application server  330  extracts the plan of plan code=001 shown in  FIG. 3  for the user A, and then returns to the main routine of  FIG. 13 . In the next step SA 18 , the application server  330  executes the process (see  FIG. 21 ) creation of the plan for the particular event (the wedding ceremony in this case) corresponding to the user A taking the result of character analysis into account. 
     Specifically, in step SC 1  of  FIG. 21 , the application server  330  acquires the current date/hour/time information from a not shown timer. In step SC 2 , the application server  330  calculates a real preparation period as the difference between the scheduled date of the event (the wedding ceremony in this case) input by the user A in step SA 13  and the today&#39;s date, and then proceeds to step SC 3 . This real preparation period is the time the user A can actually consume in preparation for the event (wedding ceremony). 
     In step SC 3 , the application server  330  first accesses the main plan data base DB 2  thereby to acquire the information on the minimum preparation period for the event required by the user A. In this case, the application server  330  acquires the information as 186 (days) of the minimum preparation period corresponding to the plan code 001 shown in  FIG. 3  based on the plan code extracted in step SB 10 . What should be noted here is that the minimum preparation period of 186 (days) is the preparation period which is supposed to be required by the character of the user A based on the result of the character analysis described above. Then, the application server  330  determines whether the real preparation period is equal to or longer than the minimum preparation period. In other words, it is determined whether the preparation period for the event is sufficiently long or not. 
     If the real preparation period is shorter than the minimum preparation period, the application server  330  determines the answer in step SC 3  as “NO”. In step SC 4 , the application server  330  executes the error processing by displaying the information to the effect that the preparation period is insufficient on the display unit  120 A of the user A, and then proceeds to step SA 13  shown in  FIG. 13  for executing the condition item input process described above. As a result, the user A reenters the scheduled date on the condition item input processing screen G 4  shown in  FIG. 17  in the same manner as described above. 
     On the other hand, assume that the real preparation period is equal to or longer than the minimum preparation period. The application server  330  determines the answer in step SC 3  as “YES”. In step SC 5 , the application server  330  accesses the plan item data base DB 10  shown in  FIG. 11  based on the pointer to the plan item data base (PPA) corresponding to the plan code 001 shown in  FIG. 3 , and after thus acquiring the plan item information of ID=1. 
     In step SC 6 , the application server  330  determines whether a holiday is designated by the user A as the day on which the plan is scheduled to be executed. In the case under consideration, the (holiday) designation in the record of ID=1 of the plan item data base DB 10  shown in  FIG. 11  is “NIL”, and therefore the application server  330  determines the answer in step SC 6  as “NO”. 
     In step SC 10 , the application server  330  determines whether there is a limit to the preparation period for the plan item of ID=1 (see  FIG. 11 ). In the case where there is no limit to the preparation period, “999999” is set in the field of maximum number of days for preparation shown in  FIG. 11 . In the case where there is a limit to the preparation period, on the other hand, a numerical value other than “999999” is set in the same field. In this case, since the maximum number of days for preparation is set to “999999” in the record of ID=1 shown in  FIG. 11 , the application server  330  determines the answer in step SC 10  as “NO”. 
     In step SC 12 , the application server  330  executes the planning process (see  FIG. 24 ) in the absence of a limit to the preparation period. Specifically, in step SF 1  shown in FIG.  24 , the application server  330  sets the today&#39;s date as the preparation start day in the plan item for the record of ID=1 shown in  FIG. 11 . In step SF 2 , the application server  330  acquires the member-only calendar information (date and attribute) from the member-only calendar data base DB 4 . 
     In step SF 3 , the application server  330  determines whether the preparation start day set in step SF 1  is a week day or not by reference to the date and attribute (see  FIG. 5 ) of the member-only calendar information. In the case where the preparation start day is not a week day, the application server  330  determines the answer in step SF 3  as “NO”. In step SF 5 , the preparation start day (date) is incremented by one and then the process returns to step SF 3 . 
     In the case where the preparation start day is a week day, on the other hand, the application server  330  determines the answer in step SF 3  as “YES”. In step SF 4 , the application server  330  sets the preparation start day (date) of the plan item for the record of ID=1 shown in  FIG. 11 . In step SF 6 , the application server  330  sets the product of the total budget (see  FIG. 17 ) input by the user A in step SA 13  (see  FIG. 13 ) and the cost ratio shown in  FIG. 11  as a budget for the particular plan item. 
     In step SF 7 , the application server  330  stores the date and the budget as the “date” and the “budget”, respectively, in the “item code”=010132 of the member plan data base DB 3  shown in  FIG. 4 , and then proceeds to step SC 8  shown in  FIG. 21 . In step SC 8 , the application server  330  determines whether the process for all the plan items (ID=1 to 125) in the plan item data base DB 10  is complete or not. In this case, the process remains unfinished for the plan items of ID=2 to 125, and therefore the application server  330  determines the answer in step SC 8  as “NO”, and returns to step SC 5 . 
     In step SC 5 , the application server  330  accesses the plan item data base DB 10 , and after thus acquiring the plan item information for ID=2, proceeds to step SC 6 . After that, the same process as the one described above is executed, so that the process for the plan items of ID=2 to 125 is executed. 
     Assume, for example, that the plan item information for ID=3 shown in  FIG. 11  is acquired in step SC 5 . In step SC 6 , the application server  330  determines the answer as “YES”, since the (holiday) designation in the record of ID=3 in the plan item data base DB 10  shown in  FIG. 11  is “holiday”. 
     In step SC 7 , the application server  330  executes the holiday item planning process (see  FIG. 22 ). Specifically, in step SD 1  shown in  FIG. 22 , it is determined whether the preparation start is limited for the plan item of ID=3 (see  FIG. 11 ). In the case where there is no limit to the preparation start, “999999” is set in the field of the maximum number of days for preparation shown in  FIG. 11 . In the case where there is a limit to the preparation period, on the other hand, a numerical value other than “999999” is set in the same field. In such a case, the maximum number of days for preparation in the record of ID=3 shown in  FIG. 11  is set to “999999”, and therefore the server application  330  determines the answer in step SD 1  as “NO”. 
     In step SD 3 , the application server  330  sets as the today&#39;s date the preparation start day of the plan item for the record of ID=3 shown in  FIG. 11 . In step SD 5 , the application server  330  acquires the member-only calendar information (date and attribute) from the member-only calendar data base DB 4 . 
     In step SD 6 , the application server  330  determines whether the preparation start day set in step SD 3  is a holiday or not by reference to the date and the attribute in the member-only calendar information. In the case where the preparation start day is not a holiday, the application server  330  determines the answer in step SD 6  as “NO”. In step SD 7 , the preparation start day (date) is incremented by one, and the process in step SD 6  is repeated. 
     In the case where the preparation start day is a holiday, on the other hand, the application server  330  determines the answer in step SD 6  as “YES”. In step SD 8 , the application server  330  sets the preparation start day (date) of the plan item for the record of ID=3 shown in  FIG. 11 . In step SD 9 , the application server  330  sets the product of the total budget (see  FIG. 17 ) input by the user A in step SA 13  (see  FIG. 13 ) and the cost ratio shown in  FIG. 11  as a budget for the particular plan item. 
     In step SD 10 , the application server  330  stores the date and the budget as the “date” and “budget”, respectively, in the “item code”=010168 of the member plan data base DB 3  shown in  FIG. 4 , and then proceeds to step SC 8  shown in  FIG. 21  for executing the process described above. 
     In the case where the determination in step SD 1  shown in  FIG. 22  is “YES”, on the other hand, in step SD 2 , the application server  330  determines the setting of the preparation start day. Specifically, the application server  330  determines whether the number of days from today to the scheduled date of the event exceeds the maximum number of days for preparation or not. When the result of this determination is “NO”, the application server  330  proceeds to step SD 3 . In step SD 3 , the application server  330  sets the today&#39;s date as the preparation start day and proceeds to step SD 5  for executing the process described above. 
     In the case where the result of determination in step SD 2  is “YES”, on the other hand, the application server  330  proceeds to step SD 4 . In step SD 4 , the application server  330  sets the date traced back by the maximum number of days for preparation from the scheduled date of the event (wedding ceremony) as a preparation start day, and then proceeds to step SD 5  for executing the process described above. 
     Also, once the plan item information for ID=123 shown in  FIG. 11  is acquired in step SC 5  shown in  FIG. 21 , the application server  330  determines the answer in step SC 6  as “NO” and proceeds to step SC 10  since the (holiday) designation in the record of ID=123 in the plan item data base DB 10  shown in  FIG. 11  is “nil”. 
     In step SC 10 , the application server  330  determines whether there is a limit to the preparation period for the plan item of ID=123 (see  FIG. 11 ). In this case, the maximum number of days for preparation is set to 120 in the record of ID=123 shown in  FIG. 11 , and therefore the application server  330  determines the answer in step SC 10  as “YES”. 
     In step SC 11 , the application server  330  executes the planning process (see  FIG. 23 ) when the preparation period is limited. Specifically, in step SE 1  shown in  FIG. 23 , the application server  330  determines to set the preparation start day. Specifically, the application server  330  determines whether the number of days from today to the scheduled date (see  FIG. 17 ) of the event exceeds the maximum number of days for preparation (see  FIG. 11 ) or not, and in the case where this determination is “NO”, proceeds to step SE 2 . In step SE 2 , the application server  330  sets the today&#39;s date as the preparation start day, and then proceeds to step SE 3 . 
     In the case where the determination in step SE 1  is “YES”, on the other hand, the application server  330  proceeds to step SE 4 . In step SE 4 , the application server  330  sets the date traced back by the maximum number of days for preparation from the scheduled date of the event (wedding ceremony) as a preparation start day, and then proceeds to step SE 3 . 
     In step SE 3 , the application server  330  acquires the member-only calendar information (date and attribute) from the member-only calendar data base DB 4 . In step SE 5 , the application server  330  determines whether the preparation start day set in step SE 2  is a week day or not by reference to the date and attribute (see  FIG. 5 ) of the member-only calendar information. In the case where the preparation start day is not a week day, the application server  330  determines the answer in step SE 5  as “NO” and proceeds to step SE 7 . In step SE 7 , the application server  330  increments the preparation start day (date) by one and repeats the process in step SE 5 . 
     In the case where the preparation start day is a week day, on the other hand, the application server  330  determines the answer in step SE 5  as “YES”. In step SE 6 , the application server  330  sets the preparation start day (date) of the plan item for the record of ID=123 shown in  FIG. 11 . In step SE 8 , the application server  330  sets the product of the total budget (see  FIG. 17 ) input by the user A in step SA 13  (see  FIG. 13 ) and the cost ratio shown in  FIG. 11  as a budget for the particular plan item. 
     In step SE 9 , the application server  330  stores the date and the budget as the “date” and “budget”, respectively, of the “item code”=010362 of the member plan data base DB 3  shown in  FIG. 4 , and then proceeds to step SC 8  shown in  FIG. 21  for executing the process described above. 
     Once the process is completed for all items and the determination in step SC 8  turns “YES”, the application server  330  proceeds to step SC 9 , and executes the plan display process (see  FIG. 25 ) for displaying the plan formed exclusively for the user A on the display unit  120 A. In  FIG. 25 , the process in steps SG 1  to SG 10  is executed by the application server  330 , while the process in steps SH 1  to SH 9  is executed by the client  110 A. 
     In step SG 1  shown in  FIG. 25 , the application server  330  sets a parameter for causing the client  110 A to display the plan display screen G 5  shown in  FIG. 26 , and proceeds to step SG 2 . This parameter is designated by the user A and represents the period and level of the plan (see  FIG. 11 ). In step SG 2 , the application server  330  extracts the plan item (record) corresponding to the aforementioned setting from the member plan data base DB 3 . 
     In step SG 3 , the application server  330  transmits the information (plan information) of the plan item extracted in step SG 2  to the client  110 A through the Internet N. In step SG 4 , the application server  330  determines whether the plan item on the plan display screen G 5  (see  FIG. 26 ) described later has been clicked or not. 
     Once the plan information is received by the client  110 A, on the other hand, in step SH 1 , the client  110 A displays the plan display screen G 5  shown in  FIG. 26  on the display unit  120 A based on the received plan information, and then proceeds to step SH 2 . The plan items exclusive to the user A (determination of budget for wedding ceremony and wedding party, and determination of candidates for the wedding hall) produced in the event plan production process (see step SA 18 ) shown in  FIG. 13  are displayed chronologically on the plan display screen G 5 . 
     In step SH 2 , the client  110 A determines whether the setting is changed for the parameters described above (period and level of the plan), and in the case where the result of determination is “YES”, proceeds to step SH 3 . In step SH 3 , the client  110 A transmits the setting change to the application server  330  through the Internet N. In the case where no setting change is made in step SH 2 , on the other hand, the client  110 A determines the answer as “NO”. 
     In step SH 4 , the user A clicks using the mouse any one of the plant items on the plan display screen G 5  shown in  FIG. 26  for which a detailed plan is desired to be displayed. In this case, assume that the plan item P (determination of candidates for the wedding hall) shown in  FIG. 26  is clicked. Then, the application server  330  determines the answer in step SG 4  as “YES” and proceeds to step SG 5 . 
     In step SG 5 , the application server  330  accesses the member plan data base DB 3  shown in  FIG. 4 , and thereby recognizes the record of ID=2 shown in  FIG. 11  corresponding to the item code 010135. Then, the application server  330  detects the detailed information link address http://www.xxx.co.jp/life/ghi/jkl.html in the record of ID=2 shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     In step SG 6 , the application server  330  transmits the detailed information link address to the client  110 A through the Internet N as the detailed plan information. In step SG 7 , the application server  330  determines whether a not shown reservation button is clicked or not by the user A. This reservation button is for reserving the wedding hall, for example. 
     Upon receipt of the detailed plan information, the client  110 A displays the detailed plan on the wedding hall in step SH 5 . In step SH 6 , the user A determines whether the wedding hall is to be reserved or not, and when the hall is not to be reserved, proceeds to step SH 8 . Assume that, the user A decides that the hall is to be reserved. In step SH 7 , the user A clicks the reservation button displayed on the display unit  120 A. 
     As a result, in step SG 7 , the application server  330  determines the answer as “YES”, and proceeds to step SG 8  for executing the reservation process (see  FIG. 28 ) for the wedding hall. In  FIG. 28 , the process in steps SI 1  to SI 5  is executed by the application server  330 , and the process in steps SJ 1  to SJ 7  is executed by the client  110 A. In step SJ 1 , the client  110 A displays the detailed display screen G 6  shown in  FIG. 27  on the display unit  120 A and then proceeds to step SJ 2 . 
     A message to the user A, an image I and a search engine S are displayed on the detailed display screen G 6 . This search engine S is for searching for the home page of the wedding hall existing on the Internet N. In step SJ 2 , the user A inputs and selects the items (key word, etc.) for searching for the wedding hall, using the search engine S. 
     As a result, in step SI 1 , the application server  330  searches the wedding hall data base DB 6  shown in  FIG. 7  with the items input and selected in step SJ 2  as a key. In the wedding hall data base DB 6 , a record configured with the fields of ID, hall name, zip code, address, telephone number, form indicating the type of the hall, Japanese style indicating the possibility (TRUE if possible, FALSE if not possible) of holding the wedding ceremony of Japanese style, Christian style indicating the possibility (TRUE if possible, FALSE if not possible) of holding the wedding ceremony in the church, . . . , minimum number of attendants indicating the minimum reserved number of attendants, maximum number of attendants indicating the maximum reserved number of attendants in the hall, facility and performance is stored for each ID. 
     Upon complete search, in step SJ 3 , the client  110 A outputs the search result to the display unit  120 A. As a result, the search result is displayed on the display unit  120 A. In step SJ 4 , the user A selects the desired hall from the search result. 
     As a result, in step SI 2 , the application server  330  accesses the hall data base DB 6 , and searches the detailed information on the wedding halls selected by the user A. Upon complete search, in step SJ 5 , the client  110 A displays on the display unit  120 A the detailed information on the wedding halls, the select button for reservation and the input items for inputting the reservation schedule. 
     Then, in step SJ 6 , checking the display screen of the display unit  120 A, the user A clicks the select button to enter a reserved day as an input item. As a result, in step SI 3 , the application server  330  confirms the hall availability information by referring to the hall reservation situation data base DB 8  shown in  FIG. 9 . In the hall reservation situation data base DB 8 , a record configured with the fields of date, reservation indicating whether the hall is reserved or not, name of reserver, address of the hall, telephone number, etc. is stored for each date. This hall reservation situation database DB 8  is updated as required based on the latest information from the detailed information server  210  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In the next step SI 4 , the application server  330  determines whether another reservation is entered for the date scheduled by the user A based on the result of availability check in step SI 3 , and in the case where the determination is “YES”, notifies the client  110 A of the prior reservation. In such a case, in step SJ 6 , the user A changes the reserved date. 
     In the case where the determination in step SI 4  is “NO”, on the other hand, the application server  330  proceeds to step SI 5  for registering the reservation information. Specifically, the application server  330  enters “reserved” in the associated “reservation” column in the hall reservation situation data base DB 8 . Further, the application server  330  transmits the reservation information to the reservation server  220  shown in  FIG. 1  through the Internet N, and proceeds to step SG 9  shown in  FIG. 25 . As a result, the formal reservation for the hall is completed. Also, in step SJ 7 , the client  110 A displays the reservation check screen on the display unit  120 A. 
     Returning to  FIG. 25 , the application server  330  determines in step SG 9  whether the purchase button is clicked by the user A or not. In step SH 8 , on the other hand, the user A determines whether the commodity (the hall service in this case) is purchased or not, and in the case where the determination is “NO”, the whole series of the process is terminated. In such a case, the user A determines the answer in step SH 8  as “YES”, and proceeds to step SH 9 . In step SH 9 , the user A clicks the purchase button (not shown) displayed on the display unit  120 A. 
     As a result, the application server  330  determines the answer in step SG 9  as “YES”, and proceeds to step SG 10  for executing the purchase process (see  FIG. 29 ). In  FIG. 29 , the process in steps SK 1  to SK 3  is executed by the application server  330 , and the process in steps SL 1  to SL 8  is executed by the client  110 A. In step SL 1 , the client  110 A displays a commodity search screen for searching the commodities (the hall services, in this case) on the display unit  120 A. 
     In step SL 2 , the user A inputs and selects the items (key word, etc.) for searching the halls using the search engine. As a result, in step SK 1 , the application server  330  searches the commodity data base DB 9  shown in  FIG. 10  with the items input and selected in step SL 2  as a key. This commodity data base DB 9  has stored therein a record configured with the fields of ID, commodity name, commodity number, link to magazine page and telephone number for each ID. 
     Upon completion of the search, in step SL 3 , the client  110 A outputs the search result to the display unit  120 A. As a result, the search result (see  FIG. 10 ) is displayed on the display unit  120 A. In step SL 4 , the user A selects the desired commodity from the search result. 
     As a result, in step SK 2 , the application server  330  searches the detailed information on the commodity selected by the user A, by accessing the commodity data base DB 9  (see  FIG. 10 ) and the hall charge data base DB 7  (see  FIG. 8 ). In the hall charge data base DB 7  shown in  FIG. 8 , a record configured with the fields of item, minimum charge and maximum charge is stored for each item. 
     Upon completion of the search, in step SL 5 , the client  110 A displays on the display unit  120 A the detailed information (see  FIG. 8 ) on the commodity, a commodity button for purchasing the commodity, and an input column for inputting the number of the credit card. Then, in step SL 6 , the user A clicks the purchase button while checking the display screen of the display unit  120 A. 
     In step SL 7 , the user A inputs the number of the credit card for payment. As a result, in step SK 3 , the application server  330  transmits the credit card number information to the payment system  410  through a dedicated line L shown in  FIG. 1 , after which it completes the series of purchase process (the process for producing the event plan), and proceeds to step SA 19  (see  FIG. 13 ). As a result, the account is settled in the payment system  410  using the credit card held by the user A. Also, in step SL 8 , the client  110 A displays the purchase check screen on the display unit  120 A. 
     Returning to  FIG. 13 , the application server  330  determines in step SA 19  whether the user A has instructed to terminate the automatic planning of the event or not, and in the case where the determination is “YES”, terminates the series of the process. In the case where the determination in step SA 19  is “NO”, on the other hand, the application server  330  returns to step SA 4  for executing the process described above. 
     In the case where the determination in step SA 5  is “NO” or in the case where the determination in step SA 11  is “YES”, on the other hand, the application server  330  proceeds to step SA 6 . In step SA 6 , the application server  330  executes the process for causing the user A to select any one of the scheduler function, the fund/cost management function, the check list function and the simulation function. 
     Assuming that the user A clicks the scheduler function select soft button B 1  shown in  FIG. 16 , the application server  330  proceeds to step SA 7  for executing the scheduler process. In this scheduler process, the plan display screen G 7  shown in  FIG. 30   a  is displayed on the display unit  120 A. 
     The plan display screen G 7  is the result of chronological scheduling of the event plan produced in step SA 18 . The calendar of September 1999 and the events (speech, wedding ceremony and honeymoon) are illustrated on this screen. For example, speech is described in the column of September 22, wedding ceremony in the column of September 23, and honeymoon in the column of September 24. 
     When the user A clicks the portion of September 23, the detailed plan display screen G 8  for the marriage shown in  FIG. 30  is displayed on the display unit  120 A. This detailed plan display screen G 8  has displayed thereon “item” such as ceremony and eatables, “shop” such as the A hotel and the rental house, “amount” and “breakdown” or other detailed items of the plan for the marriage. 
     Assume that the user A clicks the check list function select soft button B 2  shown in  FIG. 16 , on the other hand. The application server  330  proceeds to step SA 9  and executes the check list process. In this check list process, a list of the preparatory acts to be carried out by the user A in executing the event (the wedding ceremony, for example) is produced, and then the check mark is attached on each of the acts that have been executed on the list. 
     Also, assume that the user A clicks the fund/cost management function select soft button B 3  shown in  FIG. 16 . The application server  330  proceeds to step SA 8 , and executes the fund/cost management process. In this fund/cost management process, the fund, expenses, budget and receipts and disbursements for carrying out the event are managed. 
     Assume that the user A clicks the simulation function select soft button B 4  shown in  FIG. 16 . In step SA 10 , the application server  330  executes the simulation process. In this simulation process, a series of acts from the preparation to execution of the planned event is displayed to the user A by animation or the like. 
     As described above, an automatic planning is carried out by taking into account the character of the user and required initial conditions input by the user. The character of the is determined from the answers the user has given with respect to a questionnaire. Therefore, the workload on the part of the user can be reduced, while at the same time making it possible to form a plan suitable for the user both easily and accurately. 
     Further, the plan data corresponding to the character pattern is held in the main plan data base DB 2  in advance, and based on this plan data, the schedule is formed. Thus, a plan can be formed automatically with a very simple method. 
     Further, the detailed plan information (detailed display screen G 6 , see  FIG. 27 ) is presented to the user, and therefore the user is not required to collect the detailed data by himself for an improved convenience. 
     Further, the requests for reservation, purchase and payment are received from the user, and therefore the planning, reservation, purchase and payment can be conveniently carried out at one place. 
     Further, the schedule for various events in the life cycle of the user (such as marriage, child bird, purchase of a house and funeral) can be formed, and therefore the life of the user can be totally supported, thereby providing a service of very high quality. 
     An embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings. A specific configuration, however, is not confined to the embodiment, but can be redesigned or modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In the embodiment described above, for example, the automatic planning program for realizing the automatic planning function can be recorded in the computer readable recording medium  500  shown in  FIG. 31  and the automatic planning program recorded in the recording medium  500  is read by the computer  400  for execution. 
     The computer  400  shown in  FIG. 31  includes a CPU  401  for executing the automatic planning program, an input device  402  such as a keyboard or a mouse, a ROM (read-only memory)  403  for storing various data, a RAM (random access memory)  404  for storing arithmetic parameters, a reader  405  for reading the automatic planning program from the recording medium  500 , an output device  406  such as a display or a printer, and a bus BU for connecting the various parts of the apparatus. 
     The CPU  401  reads the automatic planning program recorded in the recording medium  500  through the reader  405  and executes the automatic planning program thereby to realize the automatic planning function described above. By the way, the recording medium  500  includes a network or the like transmission medium for temporarily holding the data as well as portable recording media such as an optical disk, a floppy disk and a hard disk. 
     Also, an embodiment was described above with reference to the case in which the planning is based on the result of the analysis of the character of the user. The present invention, however, is not limited to it, but the plan can be formed based on the result of propensity or character analysis from the viewpoint of the taste and the liking of the user. In short, the user can be analyzed from any viewpoint. In the case where the analysis is based on other than the character, the questionnaire from the particular viewpoint is of course carried out. 
     As an embodiment, the method of character analysis using a neural network was described. The present invention, however, is not limited to such a method but may employ other methods with equal effect. 
     Further, according to an embodiment, the date of execution of matters to be processed (such as the preliminary inspection of the wedding hall) for the items of the plan formed (plan display screen G 5 ,  FIG. 26 ) can be monitored by the application server  330 , and notified to the client through the Internet N from the application server  330  immediately before the date of execution. Then, the user can positively process the matters. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, the planning is automatically performed simply by answering a questionnaire and following the procedure of inputting the required initial conditions, and therefore the workload of the user himself can be reduced while at the same time executing the planning easily and positively in a way suitable to the user. 
     Further, the plan data corresponding to the pattern of the user is stored in the storage unit in advance, and based on this plan data, the schedule is formed. Therefore, the planning can be accomplished automatically with a very simple method. 
     Further, the detailed data is supplied to the user, and therefore the user is not required to collect the detailed data by himself for an improved convenience. 
     Further, the items to be processed by the user are notified to the user in a schedule by the reporting unit. Therefore, the user can process the items positively, and the planning result is managed on the system side. Thus, the troubles (loss, fouling, etc.) which have thus far been caused by the paper-based management can be avoided. 
     Further, the reservation is received from the user by the reservation unit, and therefore the planning and the reservation can be accomplished at the same time for an improved convenience. 
     Further, the request for purchase of articles and services is received from the user by the purchase unit, and therefore the planning and purchase can be accomplished at the same place for an improved convenience. 
     Further, the account can be settled on-line by the payment unit, and therefore the planning, purchase and payment can be accomplished at one place for a further improved convenience. 
     Further, the schedule for various events (marriage, child birth, purchase of a house and funeral, for example) in the life cycle of the user can be formed by the planning unit. Thus, the life of the user can be totally supported and a very high quality of service can be provided. 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.