Abstract:
The method is for providing a service system. The method identifies a location of a user of the service system. The user selects a category of the service system. A database is searched for service providers of the selected category. The method identifies a first location of a first service provider and a second location of a second service provider found in the search for the selected category. The first location is closer to the location of the user than the second location. The first and second service providers are ranked regarding proximity to the location of the user so that the first service provider is ranked higher and listed before the second service provider. A map is provided showing the location of the user, the first location of the first service provider and the second location of the second service provider.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method for identifying services that are available within a neighborhood or in close proximity of the user. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is becoming more common to require services for the home such as services related to performing everyday household related to the home and family. For example, the services may relate to childcare, house, car maintenance or any other thing that a homeowner of family member would typically need to do but may not have the time or inclination carry out. Very often it is difficult for the homeowner or family member to know whom in the neighborhood is able and willing to carry out some of those tasks. Because the services required are sometimes low paying, it is not worth for the service provider to travel great distance to carry out the service so it is most convenient to have somebody in the neighborhood perform the tasks. Today there is currently no efficient and simple way to find out whom in the neighborhood can carry out which services. 
         [0003]    There is a need for a service that in one place effectively identifies services that are available within a neighborhood, provided both by private persons and enterprises. There is also a need for service providers to effectively reach potential consumers within the neighborhood. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The method of the present invention provides a solution to the above-outlined problems. More particularly, the method is for providing a service system. The method identifies a location of a user of the service system. The user selects a category of the service system. A database is searched for service providers of the selected category. The method identifies a first location of a first service provider and a second location of a second service provider found in the search for the selected category. The first location is closer to the location of the user than the second location. The first and second service providers are ranked regarding proximity to the location of the user so that the first service provider is ranked higher and listed before the second service provider. A map is provided showing the location of the user, the first location of the first service provider and the second location of the second service provider. In this way, the user and the service provider can connect in an effective way. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a search display of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a result display of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a detailed description of a person from the result display in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a registration flow; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a log-in procedure; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a personal page. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the service system  10  of the present invention has a display  11  including a list  12  of categories  13  such as child care  14 , carwash and repair  16 , animal care  18 , handyman  20 , cooking and catering  22 , PC/Internet  24 , cleaning/washing  26 , yard-maintenance  28 , entertainment  30 , errands  32  and miscellaneous  34 . It is to be understood that the above categories can change and are only used as illustrative examples to show the principles of the method of the present invention. 
         [0012]    The display  11  also has a search segment  36  that requests the user to specify the user&#39;s location  37  by adding a street address of the user in a first box  38  and/or the name of a city or town in a second box  40 . The user is also asked to specify which category  13  is of interest as shown in a category-selecting scroll down list  42 . It is also possible to not make a choice and then all categories are presented. If needed, the user may refine the search within a category by activating an optional refined search box  41  by adding an additional search word  43  such as painting windows in order to only identify service providers that have specified painting windows as being part of the service provided. The user may then start the search by activating a search command  44  so that a search of service providers in the user&#39;s neighborhood is performed. The search is focused on finding service provided in the category selected by the user and who are in close proximity of the user&#39;s location as indicated in the boxes  38 ,  40 . 
         [0013]    As best shown in  FIG. 2 , a result display  46  is then shown to the user. The display  46  shows the result of the search conducted when the search command  44  is activated. The display  46  may include a first result list  48  that lists private persons  49   a - 49   f  who are willing to perform the service in the category requested. The list  48  may include columns related to name  54 , age  56 , service category  58  and comments  60  into which special comments may be added that in more detail describe the services provided by the private person  49   a - 49   f.  The display may also include a second result list  50  that lists organizations and a third result list  52  that lists service companies in the neighborhood or region. The list  50  may include name  62 , category  64  and comments  66  that describe the services provided in more detail. Similarly, the list  52  may include name  68 , category  70  and comments  72  that describe the services provide in more detail. Of course, the lists may be modified to include other or different information as desired. 
         [0014]    Another important feature of the present invention is that the display  46  includes a map  74  that is synchronized with the lists shown such as the lists  48 ,  50 , and  52 . The map shows the location  76  of the user, according to the information provided in the boxes  38 ,  40 , and the location of the persons/organizations/companies listed in the lists  48 ,  50 ,  52 , respectively. For example, the map  74  may show the locations  51   a - 51   f  of the private persons  49   a - 49   f,  respectively, so that the user can easily see where the private persons found in the search live. An important feature of the present invention is that the private persons  49   a - 49   f  can be listed according to proximity to the user&#39;s location  76  so that the closest private person is given the highest ranking and is listed first. If the user&#39;s location is unknown the service providers within the area may be listed in a random order. It may also be possible to rank the service providers based on how much they have paid to the service system provider  10 . It may also be possible for the user to change the ranking of the service providers. 
         [0015]    All the private persons  49   a - 49   f,  organizations  62  and companies  68  may be required to pay a fee to the service system provider of the service system  10 . 
         [0016]    Additional lists for other categories  13  may be displayed by changing the category in a category-selecting list  78 . The display  46  may also show a help-wanted display  80 . The display  80  may show categories related to name  82  and comment  84  where the person seeking help may specify what the requested help is about. The buyers of the services may register and receive newsletters, tax information and other useful information about the services and the service providers. The sellers responding to the help-wanted display may click on the name  82  to receive more information about the selected person who needs help. 
         [0017]    By clicking on the one of the private persons  49   a - 49   f  of the list  48 , such as the person  49   d,  a more detailed display  86  about the person  49   d  is shown. The display  86  may include name  87 , picture  88 , video  90 , brief description  92 , age  94 , address  96 , telephone number  98 , service provided  100 , references  102  and charge rate  104 . The private person may elect not to display the address, telephone number and references in the display  86 . In this case, the user may later be provided with this information either from the private person in question or from the service system provider of the service system  10 . All service providers must register with the provider of the service system  10  when the payment is made. It may also be possible to charge the user at other stages in the process of using the system  10 . The provider of the service system  10  may assist the registered service providers with fliers to give good continuity of the marketing in the neighborhood. 
         [0018]    The segment name  87  may be linked to the name column  54  of the display  48  and the age segment  94  may be linked to the column  56  of the display  48 . The display  86  may be displayed while the map  74  is shown on the screen. The brief description  92  may be linked to the search words  43  in the refined search box  41 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a registration process  100 . In a first step  102  an address  104  is entered to decide the geographical location of the advertisement. Based on the address  104  entered a search is made in an address-database  106  and coordinates of the address is stored. 
         [0020]    In a second step  108 , all other information  110  is entered. A map  112  shows as a confirmation the entered address. The advertiser can, if it is a private advertisement, select if the street address will be shown in the advertisement. There is also a possibility of uploading a photo/logo  114 . The information entered may include personal information such as name, address, telephone numbers, mail-address etc. For company advertisements and for organizations/school classes, this section may also contain fields  116  for company name, organizational number etc. There may be fields for personal description/company description  118  and for references. There may be a display  120  where there is an opportunity to enter a description and price for each of the services offered. There is also a possibility to only show the information for the service provider&#39;s member organization. In a third step  122 , the entered information is displayed to enable the advertiser to confirm the correctness. In a fourth step  124 , the registration is finalized and an automated e-mail is sent to the advertiser to confirm the registration. The e-mail contains all the entered information including login-information such as user-id and password, 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a log-in page  126  that includes an email field  128  and a password field  130 . The service provider may enter user-id and password to access the user&#39;s personal pages. These pages may also be tied to a membership of an organization and thereby additional information. It is also possible for a user (that is not a service provider) to login to its member organization. 
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a personal page  132 . There is an on sale field  134  that may be edited by activated an editing command  136 . There is a help wanted field  138  with a create field  140 . Also, there is a publish field  142  and a create field  144 . On the personal page, the user can find statistics on number of hits on advertisements etc. and has the possibility of changing existing ads or registering other types of ads under the same user-id. If the user is logged in to a certain member organization, there is additional information about the organization and a possibility to also see advertisements for members only. For certain members of an organization it is also possible to publish information for the organization. 
         [0023]    It should be noted that the registration and log-in pages may be reached from the main page. The most recent advertisement may show on the main page and be activated by clicking on the advertisement. 
         [0024]    It is also possible to provide a liability insurance to service providers of the system of the present invention. This liability insurance takes care of certain situations when private service providers are delivering services and today are not insured if something goes wrong. The service providers have the option of buying the insurance. It is also possible for the system provider to insure certain group of service providers as part of the service provided. 
         [0025]    It is also possible to provide a customized system to an organization, such as a real estate and neighborhood organizations, so that certain information is only shown to members of the organization. The neighborhood organization can provide news and other information to the members on the website of the customized system. The customized system may use a special payment schedule so that organization is responsible for payment to the system provider. The payment to the system provider may reduce the price of using the system by the members of the organization to make it more attractive to use the services provided in the customized system. 
         [0026]    While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.