Abstract:
A computerized family advising system and method for making funeral arrangements which permits families to gain knowledge about every aspect of the funeral arrangement process, and to view and order funeral products and services. The system is also designed to help funeral directors, through a virtual showroom, in both the planning of at-need or pre-need funeral services and the showing of an increased inventory of funeral products and/or service available from a distributor&#39;s remote database. The system is a browser-based computer application installed on a multimedia computer in a funeral home showroom, office or conference room. The system, if desirable, is accessible by users through the Internet using any standard Internet browser. The system is capable of both recognizing user-initiated events and accepting user data in order to take a defined action, returning funeral related information, and placing orders to the distributor&#39;s remote database.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a family advising system and method for making funeral arrangements. More particularly, the present invention relates to a computer system and software for assisting in making selections of pre-need or at-need funeral services and products.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Each year, Americans arrange more than two million funerals for family and friends. As such, one of the greatest issues facing providers of funeral services is dealing with families or friends of the deceased person that know very little about the products and services available to them. Typically, families and friends are often burdened with arranging a funeral service during a very stressful period that sometimes offers little time for making informed decisions. Under such pressured circumstances, the families and friends may be unable to find reliable, unbiased information about the available funeral services and products. Because funerals can cost thousands of dollars and because dozens of unanticipated decisions must be made quickly, choosing only those goods and services wanted or needed may be frustrating to such uninformed families and friends.  
           [0005]    In arranging funeral services, most families or friends of the deceased person either stop by a funeral home or shop by phone to compare prices among funeral providers. However, obtaining only price information is problematic. First, finding out the cost of products and services over the telephone or in person can be intimidating, thereby possibly adding more stress to the already grieving family or friend. Second, a family member or friend calling or visiting a funeral provider may forget to ask about other funeral options, the terms, the conditions, and even the prices of funeral goods and services. Third, price lists neither provide reasonable answers to the questions that uninformed families and friends should be asking about the available funeral services and products nor enable funeral providers to present death care information in a sensitive and caring environment. Fourth, due to limited floor space in a funeral home, funeral providers have to select and choose which products to display, thereby limiting the selection of products from which a family or friend may browse and choose.  
           [0006]    Therefore, there is a need for a system and method that will provide death care information to families and friends in a sensitive and caring environment. Additionally, there is a need for a system and method that allows a funeral provider to inform families and friends about additional products not physical displayed on the showroom floor of the funeral home. Furthermore, there is a need for a system and method that will present funeral products in various theme arrangements in order to stimulate ideas for personalizing a funeral.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides a computerized family advising system and method for making funeral arrangements in which a user is guided though a series of interactive electronic multi-media pages in order to make decisions on funeral services and products desired. The series of interactive electronic pages also presents funeral products and services in themes in order to stimulate ideas for personalizing the funeral. Additionally, the interactive electronic pages allow the user to make further informational inquires about particular funeral services and products, and to complete an ordering request. At the completion of the funeral arrangement process, the ordering request is then forwarded to funeral services and products suppliers for processing.  
           [0008]    One object of the present invention is to provide a system and method that give family members and friends of the deceased person all the options available to them in both arranging funeral services and selecting funeral products in a sensitive and caring environment.  
           [0009]    Another object of the invention is to allow a funeral provider to inform families and friends in a sensitive, caring environment about the available funeral services, and additional products not physical displayed on the showroom floor.  
           [0010]    Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for managing an inventory of funeral products.  
           [0011]    In order to achieve the foregoing objects, in a first instance, the present invention is a family advising computer system that presents an electronic home page and associated script files for making funeral arrangements. The computer system is configured to guide the user through the funeral planning process allowing the user to gain knowledge and to ask questions about several aspects of the funeral planning process before making planning decisions. Once the user has been guided through the planning process, a summary page is generated.  
           [0012]    The summary page shows an itemized list of the items and prices of all the choices that the user has made in arranging the funeral services and products while being guided through the planning process. The user has the option to accept, change or not accept those arrangement choices. Additionally, the computer system is also designed to help funeral directors with the planning of at-need or pre-need funeral services by allowing them to present the funeral arrangement information in a caring and sensitive environment. The planning can take place with either as much or as little interaction desired by the user. Further, through a “virtual” showroom, the computer system is designed to allow funeral providers to display an increased inventory of funeral products in order to meet the needs of a family or friend of the deceased person. The “virtual” showroom in one embodiment, presents the funeral products and/or services arranged in a number of different themes to stimulate ideas for personalizing the funeral.  
           [0013]    The family advisor computer system is a browser-based computer application that in one embodiment operates on a multimedia-computer. As such, a computer of the computer system may be preferably located in a funeral home showroom, office or conference room. In an alternative embodiment, the application can be loaded on a laptop computer for a funeral professional to present in a client&#39;s family home if desired. In still another embodiment, the application may operate on a web-server, and be accessible by users over a network using any standard Internet browser, such that the user can complete the funeral arrangement process via remote computers from the comforts of home.  
           [0014]    The family advisor computer system is used either “pre-need” by a person making funeral arrangement before death or “at-need” by family members or friends for a deceased person. The family advisor computer system guides the user through a series of questions with choices to determine, generally, which services and products are of an interest to the individual. Additionally, the computer system provides a funeral provider with the ability to show and offer funeral products desired by the user without requiring the funeral home to maintain such products and services in an actual showroom (e.g., having caskets displayed) of the funeral home.  
           [0015]    Through the family advisor computer system the user can view and select funeral arrangement options/services (e.g., burial, cremation, embalming, etc.) and products (e.g., casket type, urn selection, etc.). Additionally, the family advisor computer system is capable of both recognizing user-initiated events and accepting user-defined queries in order to take a defined action and/or return queried funeral related information from a remote system server&#39;s database. After viewing and selecting, the family advisor computer system filters the available products and services using the user&#39;s selected choices to provide the user with a list meeting the individual&#39;s specification. The products and services may thereafter be canceled, revised, or ordered.  
           [0016]    When necessary the application, which is operating preferably on a funeral home&#39;s computer, communicates with the remote system server via a direct dial-up modem access or Internet access. The remote system server computer manages the control and availability of the existing inventory of funeral products and/or services available from preferred distributors and/or suppliers. Such communication is performed both to update the pricing and availability of products offered by the funeral home computer, and to place the order request with the proper distributor/supplier.  
           [0017]    In particular, the application communicates with the remote system server, generally, at two instances. The first instance is at start-up when the remote system server is queried to determine which products and services are available and in stock. The distributor&#39;s inventory data is only accessible in the read only mode. The second instance is when the order is placed to reserve the products and services. Order information is limited to restricted directories on the remote system server in a “write only” mode. The gives the family advising computer system the ability to add data to the distributor&#39;s database without the ability of other system users to read any other customer&#39;s data.  
           [0018]    In a second instance, the present invention is a method for arranging funeral services and products. A computer is used in the method for presenting, searching, selecting and maintaining funeral arrangement information contained in a database provided by a funeral products distributor. The computer comprises a memory device for storing information, a processor for computing application instructions, a keyboard for entering information, and a display terminal for displaying visual information related to funeral services and products. The computer further comprises a pointing device for selecting visual objects display on the display terminal, a speaker system for listening to audio information related to funeral services and products, and a communication device for connecting to a remote server database of a distributor of funeral products.  
           [0019]    A software application running on the computer presents to a user a selectable options page for funeral arrangements, which provide various user selectable actions. The user can select these options or choices either by keyboard actions or by the pointing device. After selecting an option regarding the type of funeral arrangement generally interested in, the user is then guided through additional selectable option pages. The additional selectable option pages are design to provide information on the available funeral services and products and to enable the user to narrow down a selection of available services and products, thereby allowing the user to choose those services and products that meet the user&#39;s needs.  
           [0020]    After making a decision of the services and products wanted, the computer with the necessary script command compiles from a database a summary list of desired funeral arrangements based on the user&#39;s selections. The summary list is then provided to the user and, if accepted, a products list based on the user&#39;s selections is forwarded to a distributor for processing and shipping.  
           [0021]    In one embodiment, the present invention provides a computerized method for arranging a funeral. The method comprises presenting an electronic selection guide page which lists a plurality of selectable user actions for making funeral arrangements. The method further comprises displaying a first electronic response page in response to the selection of one of the plurality of user actions, wherein the first electronic response page displays information in at least one theme to stimulate ideas for personalizing the funeral.  
           [0022]    In another embodiment, the present invention provides a computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to have a memory device store information related to funeral products and service, and to have a display terminal display information related to funeral services and products, and enable the computer to guide a user through the planning of a funeral.  
           [0023]    In still other embodiment, the present invention provides a computer system for assisting a user in making funeral arrangements. The computer system comprises a display terminal, and a memory device storing information related to funeral products and service. The computer is running an application that displays the information related to funeral services and products on the display terminal and guides the user through the planning of a funeral.  
           [0024]    These and other features and objects of the present invention will be apparent in light of the description of the invention embodied herein and the appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the system of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 a  is a pictorial page view of a HTML home page illustrating an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2 b  is a flowchart of the linked HTML pages and functions accessible for a home page in another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  are pictorial page views of HTML form pages of the present invention for entering and retrieve information from a database, and for guiding a user through the funeral arrangement process;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 4 a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d , and  4   e  are pictorial page views of HTML information pages of the present invention for providing information in the form of text, pictures and video clips providing information about funeral services and products;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  are pictorial page views of HTML graphical pages of the present invention for providing virtual theme selection rooms used to personalization.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  are pictorial page views of HTML pages of the present invention providing summary information about the services and products;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 is a pictorial page view of a HTML page from which administration areas of the present invention are made accessible to a privilege user with a password;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 is pictorial page view of a HTML protected page of the present invention for a services maintenance module of the software application;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b ,  9   c , and  9   d  are pictorial page views of HTML protected pages of the present invention for the products administration module of the software application;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 10 a ,  10   b , and  10   c  are pictorial page views of HTML protected pages of the present invention for a customer&#39;s maintenance module of the software application;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 11 a  and  11   b  are pictorial page views of HTML protected pages of the present invention for report generation module of the software application;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 12 a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d ,  12   e ,  12   e ,  12   f ,  12   g ,  12   h , and  12   i  are pictorial page views of HTML protected pages of the present invention for setup modules of the software application;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 13 is pictorial page view of a HTML protected page of the present invention for a cash advance module of the software application;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 14 a  and  14   b  are pictorial page views of HTML protected pages of the present invention for an Order/Update module of the software application;  
         [0041]    FIGS.  15 - 17  are flowcharts of the present invention of a first embodiment of a path that a user may take through a funeral arrangement process, and how HTML pages of the present invention link and relate to one another in this embodiment; and  
         [0042]    FIGS.  18 - 20  are flowchart of the present invention of a second embodiment of a path that a user may take through a funeral arrangement process, and how HTML pages of the present invention link and relate to one another in this embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0043]    In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The preferred embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense as the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.  
         [0044]    The Internet, which can provide the communication medium of the present invention, is a worldwide “network of networks” that links millions of computers through tens of thousands of separate (but intercommunicating) networks. Via the Internet, users can access tremendous amounts of stored information and establish communication linkages to other Internet-based computers.  
         [0045]    Much of the Internet is based on the client-server model of information exchange. The computer architecture, developed specifically to accommodate the “distributed computing” environment that characterizes the Internet and its component networks, contemplates a server (sometimes called the host)—typically a powerful computer or cluster of computers that behaves as a single computer—that services the requests of a large number of smaller computers, or clients, which connect to it. The client computers usually communicate with a single server at any one time, although they can communicate with one another via the server or can use the server to reach other servers. A server is typically a large mainframe or minicomputer cluster, while the clients may be simple personal computers. Servers providing Internet access to multiple subscriber clients are referred to as “gateways”; more generally, a gateway is a computer system that connects two computer networks.  
         [0046]    In order to ensure proper routing of messages between the server and the intended client, the messages are first broken up into data packets, each of which receives a destination address according to a consistent protocol, and which are reassembled upon receipt by the target computer. Commonly accepted sets of transfer protocols for this purpose are the Internet Protocol, or IP, the transmission control protocol, or TCP, and the file transfer protocol, or FTP. The Internet Protocol dictates routing information of data, the transmission control protocol controls how data is actually broken up into IP packets for transmission and subsequent collection and reassembly, wherein the file transfer protocol uses separate simultaneous TCP connections for control and for data transfer. TCP/IP and FTP connections are quite commonly employed to move data across telephone lines by computer applications.  
         [0047]    The Internet also supports a large variety of information-transfer protocols. One of these is the World Wide Web (hereafter, simply, the “web”), which to many is synonymous with the Internet. Each file of web-accessible information is identified by a uniform resource locator or “URL,” which specifies the location of the file in terms of a specific computer and a location on that computer. Any Internet “node”—that is, a computer with an IP address (e.g., a server permanently and continuously connected to the Internet, or a client that has connected to a server and received a temporary IP address)—can access the file of web-accessible information by invoking the proper communication protocol and specifying the URL.  
         [0048]    Typically, a URL has the format &lt;protocol&gt;://&lt;host&gt;/&lt;path&gt;, where &lt;protocol&gt; indicates what protocol to use, such as, for example, HTTP refers to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol or FTP. The “host” is the server&#39;s Internet identifier (IP address) or “domain name” where a resource is located, and the “path” specifies the location of the file of web-accessible information within the server. The host is typically a “web site” (location) on the World Wide Web. The web site typically contains web accessible information, such as documents and files that are typically made available on one or more “web pages,” which are formatted, tree-structured repositories of information, such as text, images, sounds, and animation. The first web page that users see when they enter the web site is called a “home page.” It is to be appreciated that each home page and web pages is identified by a unique URL.  
         [0049]    With the client machine connected as an Internet node, a computer application called a “web browser” utilizes the URLs—provided by either the user or a hyperlink—to locate, fetch, and display the specified web page or information. “Display” in this sense can range from simple pictorial and textual rendering to real-time playing of audio and/or video segments or alarms, mechanical indications, printing, or storage of data for subsequent display. The browser accomplishes the fetching routine by passing the URL to a protocol handler on the associated server, which then retrieves the information and sends it to the browser for display. Clients at various locations can view web pages by downloading replicas of the web pages, via browsers, from servers on which these web pages are stored.  
         [0050]    Typically, the browser causes the retrieved information to be cached (usually on a hard disk) on the client machine. Additionally, the web browser is capable of executing hyperlink addresses and programs, and generally interpreting web-page information, such as data, transfer protocols, and computer instructions defining “potential functionality” that may be executed by the browser. It is to be appreciated that the web page itself contains information specifying the specific Internet transfer routine necessary to retrieve the document from the server on which it is resident.  
         [0051]    Ordinarily, web pages reside on servers accessible via the Internet. However, the above-discussed mode of splitting functions between web pages and browsers can be instituted on internal networks as well. These networks, sometimes called “intranets,” support the TCP/IP communication protocol and typically serve the needs of a single business (or business department), which may be located at a single site (with individual clients connected by a simple local-area network) or multiple physically dispersed sites requiring a wide-area network but not access to the Internet. A number of the computers forming the intranet network can be utilized as servers for web pages, each with its own URL and offering access to network client computers via HTTP and FTP.  
         [0052]    In this manner, FIG. 1 illustrates generally a family advising system, generally indicated by  1 , that can perform the funeral arrangement methods of the present invention. The system  1  includes a computer  2  that can be programmed to perform these methods by loading software from a removable computer readable medium  3 , such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM, or other suitable transfer medium. Alternatively, through a communication device  5 , such as a modem or a network interface card, software may be loaded electronically over a network  8 , such as through the Internet, or from an electronic bulletin board.  
         [0053]    The family advising computer  2  includes hardware elements suitable for providing a general-purpose computing environment for a user, such as a suitable main memory  7 , central processing unit  9 , hard disk drive  18  or similar non-volatile data store, removable media drive  11 , such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM, input/output circuitry  13 , video display  15 , mouse  17  or similar pointing device, and keyboard  19 . The elements of computer  2  are interconnected in the conventional manner, in which each element in the computer communicates with one or more of the others via one or more busses  21 .  
         [0054]    Although computer  2  is illustrated as a stand-alone computer in which the software and methods described below are executed entirely within computer  2 , other computing paradigms and architectures, such as the client-server paradigm in which some functions are executed on a client computer and others are executed on a server computer connected to the client computer via a network, would also be suitable.  
         [0055]    Computer  2  is running in main memory  7  an Internet (World Wide Web) software application, generally indicated as  4 , that performs the methods of the present invention. The application  4  includes a web browser  12 , a HTTP server  6 , a script interpreter  24 , a FTP server  30 , and a SQL server  26 . A user can configure, initiate, and control the execution of this application  4  on computer  2  in the conventional manner. In addition to the application  4  comprising the above-listed elements and other programs described below that relate specifically to the present invention, computer  2  can include a conventional operating system (not shown) to facilitate the execution of such programs and other functions typically performed by operating systems.  
         [0056]    Although the software elements of computer  2  which are principally relevant to the present invention are shown for purposes of illustration as existing or residing in main memory  7 , persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will understand that the application  4  is illustrated in this manner because software is typically executed from such main memory and fetched into the main memory on an as-needed basis from other sources such as the hard disk drive  18  or the network  8 . As such, persons will appreciate these software elements may or may not actually exist simultaneously or in their entirety in main memory  7 .  
         [0057]    The HTTP server  6  establishes and manages the connection of the application  4  to the network  8  for both local and remote users. To provide the input/output interface into the family advising computer  2 , the HTTP server  6  parses a home page  10  and other web pages  14 , thereby forming a web site  16 , to a local user on the local browser  12 . The HTTP server  6  may also, if desired, be use to parse through the network  8  the pages  10  and  14  of the web site  16  to a remote user using a remote browser  20  on a remote computer  22  connected to the network  8 . The remote computer  22  is conventional therefore, no further discussion is provided. It is to be appreciated that the pages of the web site  16  may be written in, for example, HTML or other languages (e.g., VRML, XML, SGML, etc.) identified on the server  6 .  
         [0058]    Preferably, the web pages  10  and  14  of the web site  16  contain multiple lines of code or tags (not shown) written in Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML). HTML is a simple, universal mark-up language that breaks the document into syntactic portions (such as headings, paragraphs, lists, etc.) that specify layout and contents. Although HTML produces static web pages, other languages overcome the static page appearance dictated by HTML, such as for example, Java, Active X, and Dynamic HTML.  
         [0059]    The Java language is a well-known, machine-independent, interpreted computer language that facilitates dynamic display of information. Java-encoded “applets” are stand-alone programs embedded within web pages that can interact with the user locally, display moving animations and perform other functions on “Java-capable” browsers—that is, browsers which include a Java interpreter. The applet is transferred to the browser along with other web-page information and is executed by the Java interpreter; the data acted upon by the applet can be located on the same or a different web page, or a different server entirely, since applets can themselves cause the browser to retrieve information via hypertext links.  
         [0060]    ActiveX and Dynamic HTML controls represent an alternative to Java, although they typically require compatible browsers and computers. These programs can be written in many computer languages (including Java) and usually compile to machine code, in which case they operate only in conjunction with browsers running machines with appropriate processor architectures. Some languages, however, will compile to machine-independent byte codes, which can run on a variety of processor architectures.  
         [0061]    Accordingly, HTML, Java, ActiveX and Dynamic HTML controls allow Internet publishers to create complex multimedia web pages of text, graphics, tables, buttons, images, sounds and videos each identified by a HTML tag. The HTML tags, which are embedded on the web pages and hidden from users, define the above-mentioned functions.  
         [0062]    In particular, one type of HTML tag is called a hyperlink or hot spot, which connects web pages  10  and  14  to each other and to other web pages accessible over the network  8 . The hyperlink typically appears unobtrusively as an underlined portion of text in a document; but when the viewer of the document clicks on the underlined text, the hyperlink is executed and the linked information is retrieved. Hyperlinks thus allows a user to navigate through the web site  16 . Hyperlinks may also be designed by images provide on the web pages.  
         [0063]    The web site  16  of application  4  is preferable stored on a local drive  18  to which the HTTP server  6  has access. However, if desired, the documents and multimedia files linked from the web pages of the site  16  may be accessible over the network  8 , and as such need not be located on the local drive, or on the same server  6 .  
         [0064]    As explained previously above, to view the home page  10 , the local browser  12  or the remote browser  20  requests the HTTP server  6  to parse the home page  10 . After receiving the home page  10 , the embedded HTML tags (not shown) tell the browser  12  or  20  what to do, what is on the page, and how the page should be displayed. Once the user has accessed the home page  10 , the user is then guided through the web site  16  of the application  4  to both help arrange a funeral and provide, when requested, detailed information about the funeral care process.  
         [0065]    In the present invention, some of the additional HTML pages  14  allow the entering and processing of information by the computer  2 . These types of HTML pages, herein after referred to as form pages, contain input fields that enable information to be sent to the HTTP server  6  for further action. A form page when displayed by a browser  12  or  20  generally displays an assortment of text entry boxes, drop-down boxes, radio buttons, and check boxes, by which the user enters information into hidden input tags.  
         [0066]    After entering information into the provided input boxes on the form page(s), the user clicking on a hot spot or button instructs the browser  12  or  18  to post the information contained in the hidden input tags back to the HTML server  6 . The HTTP server  6  analyses the incoming data and looks for identifier information that tells it what program will deal with the data processing request. The HTTP server  6  accomplishes its data processing task by passing a hidden script file (not shown) provided on the HTML page to a script interpreter  24 . The script interpreter  24  extracts the information from the input tags and passes that information to the proper program as instructed by the script file such as, for example, to the SQL server  26 .  
         [0067]    It is to be appreciated that the script file is nothing more than an instruction or a set of instructions telling the script interpreter  24  to do something. For example, a script file may instruct the script interpreter  24  to have the SQL server  26  to write the passed information to a database  28  stored on the local drive  18 . Additionally, the script file could instruct the script interpreter  24  to request information from the database  28 , in which case the SQL server  26  extracts the requested information and then passes the queried information back to the HTTP server  6  for presentment to the browser  12  or  20 .  
         [0068]    The family advising system  1  also comprises a distributors system, generally indicated as  32 . A FTP server  30  is further shown by FIG. 1, which allows the family advisor application  4  to upload and download data files  31  and  33  between the distributor&#39;s system by  32 . The distributor&#39;s system  32  is conventional, and generally comprises a remote database  34  and a remote FTP server  36  for linking with the FTP server  30  of the application  4  to establish an FTP session. Establishing a FTP session requires logging on to the distributor&#39;s system  32  in the same way that a user logs into a local network or ISP, and may be established through the browser  12  as is known.  
         [0069]    Once the FTP session is established, data files  31  and  33  are preferably transferred between the remote FTP server  36  and the FTP server  30  of the family advising computer  2  via the network  8 . However, it is to be appreciated that a direct-dial up using the communication device  5 , such as being a modem, could also be used to transfer files if desired, or establishing a virtual private network or extranet if also desired. In still another embodiment, the server  6  may support either SHTTP or SSL connections in order to connect securely to the distributor&#39;s server  36 . A discussion on the types of web pages  10  and  14  of the web site  16  presented and used by the computer  2  to setup and implement the funeral arrangement processes now follows.  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 2 depicts the home page  10  in a first embodiment of the present invention, which provides a navigation toolbar  40  and contact information  42  of a funeral provider. The navigation toolbar  40  includes an application logo  43  and user-selectable hot spots or hot buttons  44 . Hot buttons  44  represent HTML hyperlinks that each points to a particular HTML page, thereby allowing a user to navigate to and from different pages available on the site  16 . As known, the HTML hyperlinks may point to HTML pages in other web sites connected to the network  8 , as well as other items such as documents, videos, images, and the like. Additionally, it is to be appreciated that the navigation bar  40  in other embodiments may be customized to point to any number of other HTML pages and/or revised to present fewer HTML hyperlinks to minimize the user&#39;s navigation options from the home page  10 .  
         [0071]    For example, the flow chart as diagrammed by FIG. 2 b , shows that in another embodiment the linkable pages from the home page  10  include a telnet inventory update function  128  (explained in a later section), an administrative areas access page  136  from which a privilege user may access all the administrative functions  41 , and a selection room page  46  from which to start the funeral arrangement process. Accordingly, the system provides a virtual selection room and process by which to conduct business electronically with a customer such that users do not need to enter an actual selection room at the funeral home to see funeral products, i.e., the caskets and ums, and/or arrange funeral services. The computer  2  thus provides users with the convenience of viewing and selecting from a computer display screen all of the products and services available from the centralized supplier, as well as additional services and products from other vendors, if desired.  
         [0072]    As will be explained in a later section, from the first virtual selection room page  46  users are then lead through the funeral arrangement process in which various forms of information, such as text, graphics, images, and video clips may be viewed to educate users about the manufacturing process and the different types of services and products that are available. On some of the HTML pages, users may also view close-ups of the products, such as for example, casket interior panels, hardware and corner details. This ensures that users are satisfied with the value of the products and services that the funeral home has to offer through the computer  2 . Additionally, this ensures that users leave the funeral arrangement process feeling confident with the decisions made. Decisions are made by users on HTML pages such as, for example, illustrated by FIGS.  3 - 6 , and which a discussion thereof now follows.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  illustrate form pages used by a user to input information into the computer  2  for action. As depicted, the user-selectable hot buttons  44  on navigation toolbar  40  differ between FIGS. 2 and 3 a . It is to be appreciated that hot buttons  44  of navigation toolbar  40  may dynamically change with each newly display HTML page to indicate to the user which HTML pages are navigable to from the currently shown HTML page. For example, from the form page  46  illustrated by FIG. 3 a , the user may returns to the home page  38  or continue to the next linked page, via a hyperlink represented by a “Continue” button  48 .  
         [0074]    On the illustrated form page  46 , provided are input boxes  50  and search fields  53  used to input and/or search for biographical information in the database  28  that contains a plurality of customer records. Each customer record is indexed in the database  28  by a unique customer identification number, the date, an account ID number, the customer&#39;s full name, address, the type of planning, either pre-need or the defaulted, at need, and the director providing counseling to the user. Additionally, provided is information regarding who should be contacted upon the death of the user. Since the data structure of the database  28  is conventional, no further discussion is provided.  
         [0075]    Continuing with the discussions on the types of HTML pages presented to users during the funeral arrangement process, FIG. 3 b  depicts a form page  51  used to guide users through the funeral process with questions and prompting for inputting known data. As illustrated, a series of questions  52  each with set choices  54  are presented to the user for answering. It is to be appreciated that the questions presented on such pages may be customized as will be explained in a later section.  
         [0076]    Each of the set choices  54  has an associated radio button  56  that allows the user to indicate a preference for funeral services and products. As known, the radio button  56  has two states either unflagged  58  or flagged  60 , which sets a state condition within the computer  2 . Accordingly, the radio buttons  56  are used to input information into the computer  2  about a particular user&#39;s choices and preferences.  
         [0077]    In addition, the selection of a particular radio button and/or check box can be used by the computer  2  to customize the information that is presented to the user. Furthermore, certain radio buttons  56  and/or check boxes may be used to enable a script file (applet) that performs a certain task. Such a script file, for example, may run immediately, after the user clicks the continue button  48 , or at a later defined time and perform a task(s) such as running a video, popping-up an information window, changing the format/language of the information presented to the user, changing the funeral arrangement process path, and/or the like.  
         [0078]    On certain form pages  51 , the user may be provided with input boxes  50  for collecting information. As is illustrated, for example, by FIG. 3 b , the provided input boxes  50  are used by the user to enter known dates and locations of a funeral viewing and/or a graveside service, the attending clergy, and whether or not the specific event is open to the public. Furthermore, on certain form pages the navigation bar may include additional hot buttons  44 , which permit users to access other HTML pages providing specific information regarding certain service(s) and/or product(s) for which a decision by the user is to be made. For example, a theme room button  45 , if provided, presents to the user for viewing an example of a virtual selection room which is arranged in various themes. Moreover, other hot buttons  47  may be provided to link to still further information pages, if available in the computer  2 , such as for example, explaining and selecting a pre-need service.  
         [0079]    [0079]FIGS. 4 a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d , and  4   e  illustrate examples of HTML information pages  59 ,  61 ,  62 ,  63 , and  65  respectively, of the present invention from which the users view and/or select services and/or products offered by the computer  2  in an organized manner. As will be explained in a later section, the order in which these services and/or product is presented to the user may be customized. The HTML information pages  59 ,  61 ,  62 ,  63  and  65  may contain text  64  (FIG. 4 a ), graphics/pictures  66  (FIGS. 4 b ), video clips  68  (FIG. 4 c ), item choose or selection button  76  on the navigation toolbar  40  for adding the service and/or product to a purchasing list (FIG. 4 d ), input boxes  50  (FIG. 4 e ) or any combination thereof.  
         [0080]    To navigate to other HTML pages  14  within the site  16  of the application  4 , these pages may be provided with a continue button  48  (FIG. 4 a ), additional information selection buttons  70  (FIG. 4 b ), a close button  72  (FIG. 4 b ), and/or forward and back buttons  74  (FIG. 4 c ). Clicking on the continue button  48  takes the user to the next page in the funeral arrangement process, where as clicking on the close button  72  brings the user back to the previously viewed page. The forward and back buttons  74  are for viewing a series of pictures  66  from the HTML information page  62 . The product name and/or description are provided on the page in a display box  75  (FIGS. 4 d  and  4   e ).  
         [0081]    Furthermore, as depicted by FIG. 4 d  also includable on the information pages is an information box  78 . The information box  78  is designed to display a running price summary for the products and services selected as order during the funeral arrangement process. The running price summary allows the user to select preferences, see their immediate monetary effect thereby allowing the user to adjust those choices accordingly. Moreover, for the products that are customizable, such as caskets, urns, and markers, that have interchangeable hardware, such as for example, insert panels, scroll work, selectable interior materials, and engraving, the computer  2  will present to the user a customizable indicator  73  (FIG. 4 d ) and/or input boxes  50  (FIG. 4 e ) by which to receive personalization information, such as for engraving.  
         [0082]    For those certain customizable products, the computer  2  will highlight those interchangeable parts via outline boxes  77 . Clicking on any one of the displayed outline boxes  77  will bring the user to other information pages where the user may view close-ups of areas detailed in the outlined boxes  77 , and/or select from an array of customizable hardware pieces, such as for example, caskets with interchangeable corners, tribute panels, and keepsakes. Moreover, a View favorite button  79  may be provided on such information pages to help the user to narrow down the selection of items to those product which have been designated as favorites by a privilege user as will be explained in a later section.  
         [0083]    To further help users narrow down their selection process, the computer  2  also includes HTML personalization pages  81  and  83  as illustrated, for example, by FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , respectively. The personalization pages  81  and  83  permit the user to choice from a series of personalization choices for memorializing a life in unique and comforting ways. Since more and more families are looking for products and services to help them memorialize their loved ones, the personalization pages provide a funeral director the opportunity to display personalized products and viewing themes without making expensive modifications to their selection room.  
         [0084]    As illustrated by FIG. 5 a , the “Personal Expression” personalization page  81  presents to the user a variety of virtual selection room images  66 , each arranged in a different tribute theme, such as religion, military veterans, family, ethnicity, special hobbies, and the like. With such virtual selection room images, the user can more conveniently select one of the themed package choices and/or generate more ideas for funeral personalization. Additionally, as illustrated by FIG. 5 b , a series of personalization product images  66  are presented such that the user may also select and order online an assortment of specially designed printed products, such as for example, Beryl Martin™ products. It is to be appreciated that selecting any one of the displayed images  66  links the user to other information pages providing the user with additional information, questions, and/or input boxes by which to further personalize and/or order the designated product.  
         [0085]    [0085]FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  depict HTML summary pages  80  and  81  of the present invention that provide summary information, in editable categories, generally indicated by  82 , on user selected services and products. The editable categories  82  listed include a name  83  for the service or product selected, tax indicator  84 , quantity  86 , individual price  88 , cost  90 , tax  92 , sub-total price  94 , cash advance amount  96 , cash advance total  98 , and customer total  100 . Additionally, shown on the summary pages  80  are a user name  102  and an account/ID number  104 . As illustrated by FIG. 6 a , the navigation toolbar  40  provides a save &amp; continue button  106  for saving the selection to the file  33  on the local drive  18  and for moving onto the next page. The summary page illustrated by FIG. 6 b  includes an order/update button  108  for forwarding, via an FTP session, the product-ordering information from the file  33  to the distributor&#39;s system  32  for further processing. A discussion on the administrative modules of the family advising application  4  now follows.  
         [0086]    Referring to FIG. 7, illustrated is a HTML page from which administration areas of the application  4  are made accessible to a privilege user with a password. The administrative area access page is generally indicated by  136 . The protected areas include services administration, product administration, the customer database, a cash advance area, a system setup area, a shipping addresses area, tax setup, pre-need information setup, disclosure information setup, customizable guide setup, reports/price lists, backup/restore functions, order/update, synchronize, mark-up, registration, and an electronic user manual. Any user selecting one of the above-mentioned protected pages of the application  4  when presented on the navigation bar  40  will be requested to enter a password on the administrative areas access page  136 . The privilege user after entering both an authorized name and a correct password into the provided input boxes  50  clicks on a login button  138  to gain entry to the above-mentioned protected pages.  
         [0087]    In one embodiment, the hot buttons  44  provided on the navigation bar  40  of the administrative areas access page  136  include a “Selection Room” button  112 , and a “Services” button  114 . It is to be appreciated that clicking on the “Selection Room” button  112  starts the funeral arrangement process (password not required), in which the user is presented with an information page, such as illustrated by FIG. 4 a , which gives the user a brief explanation about the funeral arrangement process. Clicking on the “Services” button  114  takes the privilege user to a “Current Services” page (FIG. 8) for service setup and administration.  
         [0088]    A “Products” button  116  is also provided on the navigation bar  40  to open a “Products” page (FIG. 9 a ) for products setup and administration. Also included on the navigation bar  40  are a “Customers” button  118  to open a customer administration page (FIG. 10 a ), a “Cash Advances” button  120  to open a cash advance setup page (FIG. 13), and a “Setup” button  122  to open a system setup page (FIG. 12 a ). A “Shipping Addresses” button  124  is also provided to open a shipping addresses setup page (FIG. 12 h ), as well as the “Order/Update” button  108  to open the order/update administration page (FIG. 14 a ), and an “Inventory Update” button  128  to perform an inventory update function, as will be explained in a later section. Other buttons include a “Director Reports” button  130  to run and print out a number of selectable reports (FIG. 11 a), and a “Tax set-up” button  132  to input local, regional, and state tax rates and exemptions (FIG. 12 b ).  
         [0089]    Still other hot buttons  44  include a “Disclosure” button  125  is also provided which opens a disclosure page  217  (FIG. 12 d ) from which the privilege use may fill out various disclosure and disclaimer of warranties information. A “Directors” button  126  opens a directors page (FIG. 12 c ) on which the user sets up director information regarding each director using the computer  2 . A “Pre-need” button  134 , which open a pre-need setup page  219  (FIG. 12 e ) from which the privilege user selects what pre-need Insurance information from a particular pre-need company should be displayed. Other buttons further include “Customized Guides” and “Back-up Restore” buttons,  127  and  129 , respectively, as well as a “User Manual” button  131 . The “Customize Guides” button  127  opens a “Customized Guides” form page  223  (FIG. 12 f ) that permits the privilege user to customize the format and questions  225  presented in the selection guides for caskets, cremation caskets, and urns as will be explained in a later section. The “Backup/Restore” button  129  allows the user to backup or restore the database  28  to a previously saved file, and a “Synchronize” button  530  allows the privilege user to download data from portable computers, such as laptops, to the system  1 . The mark-up button  532  takes the user to a markup page (FIG. 12 i ) from which the user may markup wholesale prices by a set amount for all products, such as caskets, urns, urn accessories, keepsakes, markers, and panels. The “User Manual” button  131  displays a training manual on the privilege user&#39;s screen. For other embodiments, the navigation bar may be arranged with any other hot buttons  44  as necessary to access other protective areas provided to the computer  2 .  
         [0090]    It is to be appreciated that access to these protected pages allows the privilege user to customize the information presented by the application  4  on the browser  12  or  20  to a user. Accordingly, a system administrator and not the user will have access to those above-mentioned protected pages. A more detailed discussion of the abovementioned protected pages follows hereafter.  
         [0091]    Services Administration  
         [0092]    [0092]FIG. 8 shows a form page, identified as a “Current Services” page  140 . From the “Current Services” page  140 , funeral directors can customize how their service offerings are displayed to a user of the funeral advising computer  2 . Accordingly, a privileged user can access this area by clicking on the “Services” button  114  located on the toolbar  40  provided on either the home page  10  or any other page  14 , such as the administrative areas access page  136 . The privileged user is then prompted for a user name and a password by the password page  136  (FIG. 7). Once password authentication has take place, via a script file comparing entered information against a user password file on database  28 , the privileged user is presented with the “Current Services” page  140 .  
         [0093]    In this area, the privilege user can enter all service information, such as to enter/update the general price list for listed services, and add, edit or delete services. To enter a new service, the privileged user clicks into the provided input boxes  50  and types in the name, price, service code, disposition, and description of the service. Next the privileged user signified if the service and/or package is a taxable item by clicking the “Tax:” radio button  56 , and from a drop down box  142  selects one of the provided service type options, such as package, service, facility/transportation, merchandise, and the likes. It is to be appreciated that the service code is a unique product code, which is used for tracking purposes. The disposition field is used to instruct the computer  2  where to place the service in either the burial services page, the cremation services page, or both. Once this is completed, the privileged user clicks on an “Add Service” button  144  and the new service will be added to a list file displayed in a file list box  146  provided on the current services page  140 . It is to be appreciated that the file list box  146  is another feature provided on a form page of the present invention to display and customize information contained in the files  33  that are store on local drive  18 .  
         [0094]    Clicking on the desired service listed in the file list box  146 , then clicking on an “Edit Services” button  148  edits the services. A privilege user after making the desired modifications, then clicking on a “Save All Services” button  150 , which updates the services list file, which is one of the files  33  stored on local drive  18 . Clicking on the desired service in the file list box  146 , then clicking on a “Delete Service” button  152  allows a privilege user toll remove the selected service from the list displayed. Once all modifications have been made to the file list, the privilege user clicks on a “Save all Services” button  154  to save the file list to the database  28 .  
         [0095]    Products Administration  
         [0096]    The maintenance of products offered by the computer  2  to users during the funeral arrangement process will now be discussed with references made to FIGS. 9 a - 9   d . To access the product administration area, a privilege user clicks on the “Products” button  116  on the toolbar  40  provided on a HTML page of site  16 . After passing through the password page  136  (FIG. 7), the privileged user is displayed a products search page  155  depicted by FIG. 9 a . The product search page  155  allows the user to search for specific product types or to go directly to any of the products stored in the database  28 . To view a product selection for a product type or category, the user selects the product from a product selection field box  157 , and if further refinement is needed, the metal type of the product may be selected from a metal type selection field  159 , along with a price range selected via conditional notation fields  161 .  
         [0097]    After clicking on the search button  163 , the user will be presented with a “Products Selection” page  156  as depicted, for example, by FIG. 9 b , which lists all the products in the database  28  that meets the search criteria entered on the search page  155 . Although the illustrated “Product Selection” page  156  is for metal caskets, it is to be appreciated that for the other products typically contained in the database  28 , such as for example, wooden caskets, urns, keepsakes, markers, urn accessories, flowers, embroidered panels, vaults, and the like, a similar “Production Selection” page having the features discussed hereafter would be displayed.  
         [0098]    From the illustrated “Products Selection” page  156 , the privilege user adds, deletes, and edits the products contained in the database  28 , and selects what products and pricing are shown to a user. Additionally, the privilege user may select when and where such products are presented to the user by the computer  2  during the arrangement process. By clicking on the radio buttons  56 , an unflagged condition  58  will change to a flagged condition  60 , such that all products with a flagged condition  60  may be displayable to a user during the funeral arrangement process. This option permits the privilege user to conveniently unlist products due to changes in inventory and/or suppliers. Additionally, while the privilege user is on page  156  a picture  66  for any of the listed products may be viewed by clicking on a product  164  or corresponding product code  166 . It is to be appreciated that the update file  31  (FIG. 1) from the distributor&#39;s system  32  provides the products  164  contained in the database  28  with their associated information (name, picture, material type, and product code).  
         [0099]    As further illustrated, information regarding each of the listed products may be modified by the privilege user on the page such as the retail price, the gender, and the disposition of the product. To enter in a desired retail price in retail column  165  for each product listed in the products column  164 , the privilege user enters into the appropriate “Retail” input box  50  a desired retail price. Based on the entered retail values, the computer  2  will automatically calculate and return a “Markup” ratio  168  and a “Margin” value  170  for each product listed in the products column  164 .  
         [0100]    From the product selection page  156 , clicking on a disposition field  161  instructs the computer  2  where in what part of the funeral arrangement process that selected product should appear to the user, such as for example, in the standard (STD) burial arrangement path, the cremation (CRE) arrangement path or both (S/C). The gender of the product, such as Feminine (F), Masculine (M), Natural (N) or any combination thereof, can be designated by selecting the appropriate gender from a gender field  162 . To designate a particular product to be displayed as a “Most Popular” unit to a user in a products selection room HTML page (not shown), the privilege user clicks on the radio button  56  in the “Pop” column  172  for that desired product. Additionally, for each product an “Others” field  171  may be used to customize the manner in which certain types of products are displayed. For example, the “Others” field  171  could be used to select those products that will be competitive with the selections of a competitors store, or it could be used to designate which products are actually present in the funeral home.  
         [0101]    A “Feature” field  173  can be selected to indicate a special feature of the product, such as oversized caskets, and will only be displayed if a “Features” button is selected on the page a user is viewing. Clicking on a “Rename Product” button  174  permits the privilege user to enter a name by which to represent the product on its associated selection page, if so desired.  
         [0102]    In the case of products not carried by the centralized supplier, and/or information regarding certain products are not provided in the inventory updates, the computer  2  has the flexibility to customize and populate the database  28  with such products. This is accomplished by the computer  2  presenting to the privilege user on the “Product Selection” page  156  additional feature buttons, indicated generally by  179 , which permits the privilege user to add, edit, and recommend such products. By clicking on either the add or edit button of the additional features buttons  179 , the privilege user will be presented with an input page by which to add or edit products not provided in the suppliers inventory update, as illustrated by FIG. 9 c . As shown the privilege user may enter or edit the product code, the manufacturer and product name, product material, wholesale and retail prices, its description, and the digital image for the product.  
         [0103]    By clicking on the recommend button of the additional feature buttons  179 , the privilege user has the ability to recommend and/or tie the added products to those products carried by the centralized supplier, such as for example recommending Urn vaults for three different suppliers, in order of preference, as illustrated by FIG. 9 d . Accordingly, the privilege user has the ability to present a wider range of products to users than those products carried by the centralized supplier in order to provide an even more enriched funeral process to users.  
         [0104]    Once all modifications have been made on the products inventory page  156 , the privilege user clicks on a “Save Selection” button  175  to save the products inventory file to the database  28 . If desired, the privilege user may return to the search page  155 , via clicking on Search button  177 , or navigate to another page via the toolbar  40 .  
         [0105]    Customer Database  
         [0106]    [0106]FIGS. 10 a ,  10   b , and  10   c  are illustrations of HTML summary pages that display information from customer records. It is to be appreciated that Funeral Directors can access the transaction history of any prior clients that they have entered into the computer  2 . A “Customers” database file is part of the database  28  on local drive  18 , which keeps summary information of all services and products offered by a funeral provider. The “Customers” database file can be accessed in one embodiment from the home page  10  or from any other page  14  in another embodiment, such as the administrative areas access page, by clicking on the “Customers” button  118  on the toolbar  40 . After the login process, all customer names will appear on a first customer summary page  176  (FIG. 10 a ). The privilege user can either scroll up or down the list, or click on the corresponding letter hot spot  178  that represents the first letter of the client&#39;s last name to get an alphabetical listing  179  of last name, first name and customer ID number of all current customers.  
         [0107]    To display a particular customer&#39;s information record  180  the privilege user clicks on the name in the alphabetical listing  179  and a script file will run that accesses the information from the customer file stored on the database  28 , and returns the customer&#39;s information record  180  as is illustrated by FIG. 10 b . From this page, the privilege user can convert pre-need registrations in the customer database file to at-need product orders. To convert a pre-need registration to an at-need order, the privilege user opens the customer information record  180 , and if it is a pre-need record, a “Change-to-At-Need” button  181  will be displayed on toolbar  40 . The privilege user clicks the “Change to At-Need” button  181 , and then clicks “Yes” when the “Confirm Change” pop-up box appears (not shown) to complete the update from pre-need to at-need. This conversion process may also be initiated from the bibliographic page (FIG. 3 a ) by clicking on the provided “Change to At-Need” button  181 .  
         [0108]    After clicking the “Confirm Change” button  181 , the privilege user or the user from the biographic page (FIG. 3 a ) will be presented with a pre-need to at-need page  185  (FIG. 10 c ). The pre-need to at-need page  185  provides the tools to update the selected pre-need products and services to at-need products and services. The update of the listed products and/or service is completed by clicking on the appropriate update button  187 . To update the services and products, the privilege user or user clicks on the appropriate update button  187 , which takes the privilege user or user to a selection guide, where the selection process is explained. After all the services/products have been updated, the computer  2  will redirect the privilege user or user back to the pre-need to at-need page  185  so that a comparison may be made between the pre-need services/products and the at-need services/products. Clicking on a save button (not shown) saves any changes made to the customer&#39;s record. To delete the customer for the database  28 , the privilege user clicks on the “Delete Customer” button  183  on toolbar  40 , which runs a script that removes the record from the database  28 .  
         [0109]    Director Reports  
         [0110]    Clicking on the Director Reports button  130  from the navigation bar  40  of the administrative areas access page  136 , after the login process, will open a HTML page  133  (FIG. 11 a ) that lists a number of reports that the computer  2  may run. Such reports include for example, service/product price lists, detail reports of services/product sold, number of arrangement types, and deceased and informant name and address reports. It is to be appreciated that funeral homes are required by the Federal Trade Commission to provide price lists to funeral consumers during the funeral arrangement conference. The computer  2  with the Director Reports page  133  makes it easy for funeral directors to print out price lists corresponding to the products and services that the funeral home provides.  
         [0111]    To print out a particular price list, as illustrated by FIG. 11 b , the privilege user when on this page simply clicks on one of the report buttons  135  for the desired report. A pop-up box  137  will appear on the page that will allow the user to enter a desired date range or price range for the report. After submitting the desire range of the report, a price list  139  will then generate for review as illustrated by FIG. 11 b . If the privilege user is satisfied with the displayed information, selecting a print button  141  will open a =printing window  143 , which allows the privilege user to print the price list on an attached printer (not shown) of the computer  2 .  
         [0112]    Site Setup  
         [0113]    [0113]FIGS. 12 a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d ,  12   e ,  12   f ,  12   g ,  12   h , and  12   i  illustrate form pages which the privilege user accesses to setup the computer  2 . FIG. 12 a  illustrates a “Funeral Home Setup” HTML page  194  that is used to input all of a funeral home&#39;s initializing data into the computer  2  for proper operation of the application  4 , as well as, for customizing the appearance of home page  10 . To access the Funeral Home Setup page, a privilege user clicks on the “Setup” button  122  on the toolbar  40  either from the home page  10  or from any other page  14  that such a button is provided such as, for example, the administration area access page  136 . It is to be appreciated that without setup information, the home page  10  (FIGS. 1 and 2) is blank except for the toolbar  40 . After clicking on the “Setup” button  122 , the user will be prompted to enter a user name and a password on the administrative areas access page  136  (FIG. 7).  
         [0114]    After entering the proper user name and password information, clicking on the “Log In” button  138  will take the user to the “Funeral Home Setup” page  194 . The user then populates the application  4  with the necessary information by typing the data into the provided input boxes  50 . Any of the setup text boxes  50  that have an “*” next to them must be filled in with the proper information in order for the application  4  to work properly. The “Display Total Prices” category has a pop-up box  196  that instructs the application  4  whether or not to display in the summary information box  78  service and total funeral cost information when viewing products on a product selection information page  62  (FIG. 5 c ). If “No” is selected in the pop-up box  196 , then only the retail product price will be displayed on the product selection information page.  
         [0115]    Additionally provided on the setup page  194  are computer FTP access information input boxes  198 . These input boxes  198  enable the application  4  to communicate with the distributors system  32  via an FTP session. Image file selection boxes  199  permit a use to locate and select an image to be displayed on the home page as the background, and conveniently turn it on or off for display. Further depicted on the setup page  194  is “Contract Information” input box  200  which the privilege user clicks into and types or “cut and pasted” from other Microsoft® based documents the desired information. Once all changes have been made to the setup page  194 , the privilege user then clicks on the “Save Setup” button  202  on the toolbar  40 , which saves the setup to one of the files  33  stored on the local drive  18 . A discussion on the tax setup process now follows.  
         [0116]    Tax Setup  
         [0117]    On the home page setup page  194 , a display tax selection box  197  permits a user to select either “no” or “yes” to display taxes with the price of items (service or products). By selecting “yes”, the computer  2  will calculate the tax and include it in the retail price shown to the customer. If “no” is selected, the tax will not be included in the produce or service information screens, but will be calculated in on the summary page.  
         [0118]    The State and Local tax rates can be entered for a funeral home&#39;s location by selecting the “Tax setup” button  132  (FIG. 7 a ), which after the login process, takes the user to a tax information form page  201  such as, for example, as is illustrated by FIG. 12 b . On the illustrated tax information form page  201 , the user may enter state and local tax rates  203  and/or exemptions  205  and exemption types  207  for each of the products and services offered. A discussion on the setup of directors available for coordinating the funeral arrangement now follows.  
         [0119]    Director Setup  
         [0120]    By selecting a “Directors” button  126  from the navigation bar  40  on the funeral home setup page  194 , a directors page  211  is provided which permits the user to setup director information  213  regarding each director using the computer  2 . From the director page  211 , illustrated by FIG. 12 c , current directors are listed, which may be selected for deleting or editing. New director names may be added to the list by inputting the necessary information in the provided input fields and selecting the “add” button  215 . A discussion on setup disclosure information now follows.  
         [0121]    Disclosure Setup  
         [0122]    By clicking on the Disclosure button  125 , from the navigation bar of the Administration page  136 , after the login process, the privilege user is taken to a disclosure form page  217  on which disclosure information may be entered, as is illustrated by FIG. 12 d . On the disclosure form page  217 , the privilege user fills in specific disclosure and disclaimer of warranties information certain types of products and services. Additionally, the effective date of those warranties may also be entered, and any other information required by State and Federal law. A discussion on the pre-need setup now follows.  
         [0123]    Pre-need Setup  
         [0124]    By clicking on the Pre-Need button  134  from the navigation bar  40 , after the login process, the privilege user is taken to a “Pre-Need selection” form page  219 , as illustrated by FIG. 12 e . From the pre-need selection page  219 , the privilege user is requested to select which insurance company&#39;s information packages  221 , if any, to show to users in the service selection under pre-need. Such pre-need insurance company&#39;s information packages  221  that may be included and offered as part of the funeral arrangement process by the computer  2  includes, for example, Fortis Family and Homesteaders. A discussion on the customizing guide setup now follows.  
         [0125]    Customizing Guide Setup  
         [0126]    By clicking on the Customized Guides button  127  from the navigation bar  40  on the administration page  136 , after the login process, the privilege user is presented with a selection guide question customization page  223  as illustrated by FIG. 12 f . From similar such page  223 , the use may edit the default questions  225  presented in the cremation arrangement path, the burial arrangement path, the urn arrangement path, and the services selection pages. Additionally, on other similar customization pages  223  available from the administration page  136 , the user has the ability to adjust the order of the burial arrangement path and the cremation arrangement path as is illustrated, for example, for the burial arrangement path in FIG. 12 g . Furthermore, the user may select what fields are visible on the Biographical Information page (FIG. 3 a ), change the text of the introduction page (FIG. 4 a ), and select which personal expressions themes that are to be displayed and/or add text and additional theme rooms. Moreover, from this area the user has the ability to add flower information and customize the appearance with text and images to the flower information pages  520  (FIG. 19 a ). Marker information may also be added and customizes with text and/or images to the marker pages (FIG. 4 e ). A discussion on shipping address maintenance will now follow.  
         [0127]    Shipping Address Maintenance  
         [0128]    By clicking on the on the “Shipping Addresses” button  124  from the navigation bar  40  on the administration page  136 , after the login process, the privilege user is presented with a “Shipping Addresses” page  206  as illustrated by FIG. 12 h . The shipping address page is used to input shipping addresses for funeral homes that have multiple locations. To add a new shipping address, the user fills in the location information (name, address, city, state, zip code, Internet address, e-mail) into the provided input boxes  50 . All input boxes  50  that have an “*” next to them are required fields. Once information has been added, the user clicks on an “Add Address” button  208  provided on page  206 , which runs a script saving the data to a shipping address file, one of the files  33 , stored on the local drive  18 .  
         [0129]    To edit an existing address, the user selects a location  209  from a location list box  210  provided on page  206  by clicking on the location  209  to be edited so that it is highlighted. The user then clicks on an “Edit Address” button  212 , which retrieves the information from the shipping address file. The user after making the desired changes, then clicks on the “Save All Addresses” button  214  on the toolbar  40 , which runs a script that saves the entered information in the shipping address file. To delete an address, the user selects the location  209  to be deleted from the location list box  210 , so that the location is highlighted, and then clicks on a “Delete Address” button  216 . Clicking the “delete Address” button  216  runs a script that removes the highlighted location  209  from the shipping location file. A discussion on the cash advance process will now follow.  
         [0130]    Cash Advance  
         [0131]    [0131]FIG. 13 illustrates a form page, entitled “Current Cash Advances,” from which Funeral Directors may classify items that vary in price daily as cash advance items. The family advisor computer  2  allows Funeral Directors to customize their cash advance items  182  contained in one of the files  33  (FIG. 1). To access the cash advance maintenance area, click on the “Cash Advances” button  120  on the toolbar  40  of an HTML page on site  16 . After entering a proper password on password page  136 , the privilege user is displayed the “Current Cash Advances” form page  182 . Page  182  allows the privilege user to input cash advance items  184  by clicking in the “Cash Advance:” input box  50  and typing in the name of the cash advance item. Once the cash advance item  184  is completed, the user clicks on an “Add Item” button  186  and that cash advance item  184  will be added to the cash advance list file.  
         [0132]    To edit an existing cash advance item  184 , the privilege user simply clicks on the desired cash advance item  184  shown in the file display box  146  so that it is highlighted, and then clicks on the “Edit Item” button  188 . To save the changes, the user clicks on a “Save All Items” button  190  on the navigation toolbar  40 , which runs a script that saves the changes to the cash advance list to the database  28 . Lastly, to delete a cash advance item  184 , the user clicks on that item listed in the list box  146  so that it is highlighted, and then clicks on a “Delete Item” button  192  to run a script that removes the item from the cash advance list. A discussion on order/update will now follow.  
         [0133]    Order/Update  
         [0134]    [0134]FIGS. 14 a  and  14   b , illustrate the HTML pages use by the application  4  to review and edit product-ordering information for a customer before being sent to the distributor&#39;s system  32  via an FTP session. FIG. 14 a  depicts an order/update page  218  that lists in a select customer column  220  customers, and their corresponding products ordered listed in a product column  222 . To access the page the user clicks on the Order/Update button  108  from the toolbar  40  on any HTML page on the site  16 . It is to be appreciated that the order/update page  218  lists only those customer&#39;s orders that have not been previously uploaded to the distributor&#39;s system  32 . Accordingly, multiple customers may be shown in the order/update list provided on the order/update page  218 . To upload the order to the distributor&#39;s system  32 , the user clicks the upload orders button  224 , which runs a script that opens a FTP session with the distributor&#39;s system and transfers the product order file, one of the files  33 . To review an order listed on Order/Update page  218 , the privilege user clicks on a customer name  228  listed in the select customer column  220 , which takes the user to an order/update form page illustrated by FIG. 14 b.    
         [0135]    [0135]FIG. 14 b  depicts an order/update form page  230 , which enables a privilege user to review a specific customer&#39;s order, to specify delivery information, to add any special instructions to the distributor, and to place the order on-line. As depicted, provided are input boxes  50  in which to edit and enter information. Additionally, shown are the shipping addresses  209  provided in a drop down box in which to select. It is to be appreciated that the default shipping address  209  is the address provided at the top of the list in the shipping address list box  210  (FIG. 13). Further from the order/update form page  230 , the privilege user can determine if the shipment is either a normal or a priority order by selecting the priority from a priority deliver drop down box  232 . If at any point during the review, the privilege user wishes to go back to the original selections for the order, clicking on a reset button  234  will reset all information back to their previous selections. After the privilege user has reviewed the order and made the necessary changes, the product order is sent to the distributor&#39;s system  32  by clicking on a submit orders button  236 . A discussion on the inventory update function will now follow.  
         [0136]    Inventory Update  
         [0137]    The “Inventory Update” function  128  of the computer  2  is used when a funeral director is about to do an at-need arrangement with a family while utilizing the computer  2 . The inventory update button  128  may be selected from either home page  10  (FIG. 2 a ) in one embodiment, or on any other page that the button may be provided such as, for example, the administrative areas access page  136  (FIG. 7 a ). Selecting the inventory update button  128  causes that computer  2  to perform an online inventory check, via a FTP session, with the centralized supplier&#39;s/distributor&#39;s system  32  (FIG. 1). Performing the online inventory check will adjust available product-offerings so that a user of the funeral process computer  2  will be unable to view any out of stock items. For an individual requiring an at-need arrangement, clicking on the “Inventory Update” button  128  on the toolbar  40 , when presented on the HTML page, will cause the computer  2  to automatically dial into the distributor&#39;s inventory system  32  and download an update inventory file  31 . The privilege user views the file transfer from a FTP session window (not shown). Once the update inventory file  31  is downloaded into the computer  2 , the application  4  will update the current inventory display listing accordingly. The privilege user will then be returned to the currently viewed page after the FTP session is completed, such that user may continue with the funeral arrangement process. A discussion on the funeral arrangement process will now follow.  
         [0138]    Funeral Arrangement Process  
         [0139]    Referring to FIGS.  15 - 17 , illustrated is a first embodiment of the present invention that takes a family through a funeral arrangement process. It is to be appreciated that flowcharts  300 ,  302 ,  304  are visual representations of the present embodiment of the structure of site  16  (FIG. 1), showing how elements of the site  16  of the application  4  are link or relate to one another.  
         [0140]    From the home page  10  (step  306 ) of the family advising application  4 , a user desiring to arrange for a funeral clicks on the selection room hot button  112  on the navigation toolbar  40 , which takes the user to an Introduction information page  308  on site  16  of the application  4 . The Introduction information page  308  gives a brief explanation of the process that a user is about to go through in making a funeral arrangement. From here the user will navigate (Step  310 ) to a linked biographical form page  312 , where the user can select the name of a prior customer or input a new name, ID number, date, and classify the call as “At Need” or “Pre Need” (step  314 ). Once the information is entered, the user will click on the continue button  48  on the toolbar  40  (step  316 ).  
         [0141]    The next page to appear is the Family Services Selection Guide form page  318 . On page  318  the user is prompted to complete a number of questions  50  (by selecting radio buttons  54 ) about the type of funeral service the family is planning to have. This page  318  also includes information buttons  70  that provide more in depth information on the available funeral services (optional step  320 ) by being linked to a Disposition information page  322 , a Cremation information page  324 , and a Services information page  326 . As illustrated, the Services information page  326  contains digital video clips  328 ,  330 ,  332 ,  334  that explain the benefits of the different types of services. Any number videos clips on different subjects and in multiple languages may be provided. Preferably, these digital video clips include a Viewing video  328 , a Funeral Ceremony video  330 , a Memorial Service video  332 , and a Graveside Service video  334 . It is to be appreciated that the above-mentioned videos show benefits to a family for each particular service as explained by a grief counselor and which are viewable if the user desires (optional step  336 ).  
         [0142]    From the Family Service Selection Guide form page  318 , the user selects (step  338 ) between a Burial option and a Cremation option. Selecting either the burial path  340  or the cremation path  342  will take the user through the same services pages  344  through  350 . Once either the burial path  340  or cremation page  342  has been selected, the user may click on the provided continue button  48  to proceed to the service package page  344  for the desired service.  
         [0143]    In going down the service path, the first page that the user will see is a packages page form  344 . The packages form page  334  provides the user with choices  54  for various service packages, which is customizable by each individual funeral home. To view detailed description of any listed choices, the user can click on the text of that choice. To select the choice the user clicks on the radio button  56  next to the corresponding choice. To move to the next services form page  346  the user clicks on the “Continue” button  48  on the provided navigation toolbar  40 . The user follows the same procedure of selecting choices  56  on the Services form page  346 , on the Facility &amp; Transportation form page  248 , and on the Merchandise form page  250 . Once all services have been selected, if on the Family Service Selection Guide form page  318  the option selected was for the burial path  340  then the user will go to a Family Casket Selection Guide form page  252 . However, if the option selected was for the cremation path  342 , then the user will go to a Family Cremation Casket from Guide  236 .  
         [0144]    For a burial, on the Family Casket Selection Guide form page  352  the user selects casket preferences to filter down the range of products for display. Additionally from page  352 , the user can select (optional step  358 ) to view the Casket information page  360 . From page  360 , the user can view information, and make further investigations by selecting a Metal Casket information button (not shown) to go down a metal information path  362  and on a Wood Casket information button (not shown) to go down a wood casket path  364 .  
         [0145]    By clicking the metal casket path  362 , the user goes to a Metal Casket information page  366 . Page  366  has optional hot buttons that can be selected for additional information pages on Bronze Caskets  368 , Copper Caskets  370 , Stainless Steel Caskets  372 , and Steel Caskets  374 . In addition, digital video clips may be viewed from this page  366  on a Metal Casket Manufacturing Process  376 , a Hand Brushing Process  378 , and an Interior Finishing Process  380 .  
         [0146]    By selecting the wood casket information path  364 , the user goes to a Wood Casket information page  382 . From page  382 , the user can optionally select to view other information pages containing information on mahogany caskets  384 , cherry caskets  386 , oak caskets  388 , maple caskets  390 , poplar caskets  392 , and veneer caskets  394 . Digital video clips may also be viewed, if desired, from this page  382  concerning a wood finish process  396  and an interior finishing process  398 .  
         [0147]    After selecting the preferences from a list of desired choices  54  (step  354 ), a script on the Family Casket Selection Guide form page  352  instructs the search of the products database  28  for those caskets that meet the user defined casket criteria. At completion of the query, the application  4  displays the retrieved product information, one product at a time on a HTML product selection information page  356 , in order of the most expensive to the least expensive product. The product information displayed includes a digital image of the product along with the product name, a retail price, a price of services selected, total cost of the funeral incurred so far, and a counter (not shown) that indicates the total number of products that meet that user selected preferences. To see a close up of the product the user may click on the product image, which zooms in on the displayed product image.  
         [0148]    Both the Cremation Casket Selection Guide form page  354  and the Cremation Urn Selection Guide form page  356  operate in similar fashion to the Family Casket Selection Guide form page  352 . If a cremation casket is selected (optional step  400 ), then the user will go to a View and Select Cremation Casket information page  402 , with an optional detailed information page  404  that is navigated to by a provided hot button. In either of the cases, if the Family Cremation Casket selection page is skipped (optional step  406 ) or not skip, the user will then be presented with the Cremation Urns Selection Guide page  356 . From this page  356 , the user selects urn product preferences, which then leads (step  408 ), via a script that performs a query on the database  28 , to an Urns Selection information page  410 . The urns fitting the entered preferences are displayed one at a time in order of most expensive too least expensive for viewing and selection. From this page  410 , if desired a user may select to cremation urn information page  412  from which a user may images and a view a video clip that provides additional information on the manufacturing of the urns.  
         [0149]    It is to be appreciated that from both the Casket Selection information page  356  and the Urns Selection information page  410 , clicking on the provided Choose selection button  76  for each product displayed orders the product. After ordering the products, clicking on the provided Save &amp; Continue button (step  412 ) will bring the user to an editable Summary page  414 , which is the same ending page for both the burial and cremation paths. On this page  414 , pricing adjustments can be made, as well as, editing of cash advance services. Once the statement is finalized, the user clicks on the provided Save &amp; Continue button on the toolbar  40  (step  416 ) to view a condensed printable summary description page  418  of all selected services and products.  
         [0150]    To order the products on-line the user clicks on the provided “Order/Update” button (step  420 ) on the toolbar  40  of the selection summary description page  418 . The user is then taken to the Order Update page  422 , which lists the outstanding orders that have not been previously upload to the distributor&#39;s system  32 . On this page  422 , the user can edit the information as discussed above in the Update/Order section. Once all order information is complete, the user clicks on the “Submit Orders” button (step  424 ), which starts the FTP session and transmits the order to the distributor system  32  for further processing.  
         [0151]    Referring to FIGS.  18 - 22 , illustrated is another embodiment of the present invention providing additional features to the funeral arrangement process. Since many of the steps and pages are similar to the previously explained embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  15 - 17 , only a discussion on the differences is provided.  
         [0152]    Referring to FIGS. 18 a  and  18   b , as with the previous embodiment, from the home page  10  (step  306 ) the user arranges for a funeral by clicking on the selection room hot button  112  on the navigation toolbar  40 . In this embodiment the introduction information page  308 , is presented to the user after entering and/or selecting customer name on the biographical information form page  312 . After entering the necessary information and viewing the introduction information, the user is prompted to complete the questions  50  about the type of funeral service the family is planning to have on the family service selection guide page  318 . As before, this page  318  also includes information buttons  70  that provide more in depth information on the available funeral services (optional step  320 ) by being linked to the Disposition information page  322 , the Cremation information page  324 , and the Services information page  326 .  
         [0153]    In this embodiment, the first additional feature is a personal expression information page  321 , such as illustrated by FIG. 5 a . The personal expression information page  321  is linked from the family services selection guide page  318 , and may be viewed by clicking on the theme room button  45  from the navigation bar  40  provided thereon. If navigating to the personal expression information page  321  in optional step  319 , clicking on one of the provided virtual selection room images  66 , such as for example, a burial theme room, a cremation them room, and urn theme room, will present the user with a respective theme room information page.  
         [0154]    As illustrated in FIG. 18 b , a burial theme room information page  500 , a cremation theme room information page  502 , and an urn theme room information pages  506  presents to the user a number of theme room images  566  such as, for example, service, career, religion, feminine, and hobbies, from which to generate ideas. Clicking on any one of the displayed theme room images  566  will present to the user an enlarged image view.  
         [0155]    The second additional feature is being able to view pre-need information. If a user desires to read the information regard pre-need, clicking on the pre-need button  45  from the selection guide page (optional step  321 ), as is illustrated by FIG. 3 b , will present the user with a pre-need information page  323 . From this page, the user may select and/or read further information about the available pre-need services on additional pre-need information pages  325 , and  327  respectively. The remainder of the family service selection process continues at point A indicated in FIG. 15, and presents essentially the same features as exampled above after point A. Accordingly, for brevity no further discussion is provided regard the family services selection process in this alternative embodiment.  
         [0156]    Turn now to FIGS. 19 a  and  19   b , illustrated is an alternative embodiment for the family casket selection guide process. Since may of the features of the illustrated alternative embodiment are essentially the same as with the previous casket selection guide process embodiment explained above, for brevity, only a discussion on the differences is provided. One difference in this embodiment is that from the casket information page  360 , the user may view material durability information on a material durability information page  518 . Another difference in this embodiment is that on the casket viewing and selection page  356 , if the casket is customizable, the user will be able to link to a casket&#39;s customization page  357 . On the casket&#39;s customization page  357 , the user will be able to view and select customizable features, such as, for example, panels, molding, and hardware.  
         [0157]    After the casket viewing and selection page  356 , the user in step  359  is directed to a flower page  361  from which flower arrangements may be viewed and selected. From the flower page  361 , the user may link to additional flower information page  520  in which the user will be able to view enlarged images of flower arrangements and find out additional information. In step  363 , the user is then directed to a vault page  365  from which the user may view and select vaults. If additional information regarding vaults is needed, then in optional step  367  the user may proceed to a vault information page  369  that is accessed by clicking a vault information hot button provided on a vault page  365 .  
         [0158]    As illustrated in FIG. 19 b , from the vault information page  369 , the user has a number of informational choices from which to choose. Such information includes, for example, information pages for Wilbert, Clark, Doric, and Triguard vaults,  371 ,  373 ,  375 , and  377 , respectively. From each of these information pages  371 ,  373 ,  375 , and  377  the user is presented with additionally graphic/image files and/or videos explaining their respective products. Such informational page may include text, images/graphics that discuss the role of a vault, the resistance and protection afforded by the vault, when a burial vault is required, and the product line.  
         [0159]    Turning back to FIG. 19 a , after viewing and selecting a vault on the vault page  365 , if desire and/or if required, the user is then presented with HTML pages for bronze markers and then granite markers,  379 , and  381 , respectively. On the bronze and granite marker pages  379  and  381 , the user may views and selects from a number of marker selections. Additionally, the user may enter the inscription that is to be placed on the selected marker. In particular, for bronze markers the user is also able to select between a single marker, a companion marker or a veteran marker. Additionally the user may decide on an emblem for the marker, the long or short date, and whether or not to have a vase. On the marker pages, the retail price is also presented so that the user may make the appropriate decision. Additional from the granite mark page  381 , a user may link to a granite information page  522  if additional detailed information is desired. After viewing these pages and/or entering the necessary information, the user is then presented with the selection summary edit form page  414 , and from this point on, the casket selection process provides the same features as discussed in the previous embodiment. Accordingly, for brevity, no further discussion is provided.  
         [0160]    [0160]FIG. 20 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the Cremation Casket/Urn Selection Guide processes, in which additional features to the previously discussed embodiment are added. Since this embodiment has many of the same steps and pages the previously discussed embodiment, for brevity only the differences are discussed. As illustrated, after the user has viewed and selected a cremation urn on the cremation urns page  410  the user is then directed (step  411 ) to a urn vault page  413 . On the urn vault page  413 , the user may view and choose from the available vault materials. After viewing and/or choosing a vault material, the user will be presented (step  415 ) with a keepsake page  417 . On the keepsake page  417 , the user may view and select from the available keepsake products. Additionally, on this page, the user may personalize a selected keepsake, if available, by entering inscription information. The retail price for the personalization option will be provided, in addition to the retail price for the keepsake product so that the user may make the appropriate decision.  
         [0161]    After viewing and/or selection a keepsake on the keepsake page  417 , the user will be presented in step  419  a flower page  421 . On the flower page  421 , the user may view and select from a number of available flower arrangements and from which the user may link to a flower information page  524  providing additional details about the arrangements. The retail price will be presented on the flower page  421  so that the user may make the appropriate decision. After viewing and/or selection a flower arrangement(s), the user is presented in step  423  with bronze and/or granite marker selections page  379  and  381 . The marker selection pages  379  and  381  provide essential the same features as in the casket selection process (FIG. 19 a ), expect for permitting the user to link to a granite information page  526  for more detailed information, and as such no further discussion is provided. Additionally, from this point on, the cremation casket/urn guide process is the same as the previously discussed embodiment and as such, no further discussion is provided.  
         [0162]    Having described the present invention in detail and by reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that certain modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.