Abstract:
The invention provides a system and method for supplying commission information to insurance agents. In a provided embodiment, the system communicates online with authorized users to provide commission information based on various search parameters. An insurance information system resides on a host server for providing insurance information to an authorized user over a network. The insurance information system comprises authentication tools for confirming the identity of the authorized user, a database for storing insurance information submitted to the insurance information system, and web page display tools for displaying a plurality of web pages to an authorized user. The display tools comprising means for displaying a search page which allows an authorized user to enter search criteria for conducting a search, wherein the search criteria options include an agent identification number and a detailed results page for displaying commission information in accordance with the results of the search. The system also comprises searching tools for searching the database for commission information in accordance with the search criteria entered on the search page.

Description:
CONTINUING DATA  
       [0001]    This non-provisional application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/243,778 filed Oct. 30, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a system and method for providing online insurance information and in particular to a system and method for providing agent commission information online.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In the insurance industry, general agents are often authorized by a plurality of providers or carriers to sell insurance. The general agents often hire sales agents and receive and distribute commissions resulting from the sales made by the hired sales agents.  
           [0004]    The amount of each commission may vary depending on the insurance carrier and local regulations. The sales agents hired by the general agent frequently request commission information from the general agent. The task of tracking commissions from multiple carriers for multiple agents can become onerous for the general agent.  
           [0005]    Additionally, providing commission information upon request to each agent can become a burdensome task for the insurance carriers. Each call from an agent to an insurance carrier asking for commission information can result in extra costs to the insurance carrier.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, a need exists for a system enabling general agents to obtain commission information upon request without causing the insurance carriers to incur costs upon each request. Furthermore, a need exists for providing hired sales agents with a system for obtaining commission information without causing additional cost and inconvenience to the general sales agents and insurance carriers. Currently, no such systems exist.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In accordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an insurance information system residing on a host server for providing insurance information to an authorized user over a network. The insurance information system comprises authentication tools for confirming the identity of the authorized user and a database for storing commission information submitted to the insurance information system. The insurance information system additionally comprises web page display tools for displaying a plurality of web pages to an authorized user, the display tools comprising means for displaying a search page which allows an authorized user to enter search criteria for conducting a search, wherein the search criteria options include at least a general agent identification number, a policy number, or a commissionable agent identification number. The system comprises searching tools for searching the database for commission information in accordance with the search criteria entered on the search page. The system additionally comprises a detailed results page for displaying commission information in accordance with the results of the search.  
           [0008]    In another aspect, the invention comprises a method for providing online commission information over a network to authorized users. The method comprises receiving an agent identification number in order authenticate the authorized users and providing a search criteria page for allowing an authorized user to search agent commission information, wherein the authorized user can search based on at least one of a policy number, a general agent number, and a commissionable agent number. The method further comprises searching a database constructed with input from insurance carriers to obtain insurance commission information and providing the authorized user with commission information retrieved from the database search.  
           [0009]    These and other features, objects, and advantages of the preferred embodiments will become apparent when the detailed description of the preferred embodiments is read in conjunction with the drawings attached hereto. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an insurance information system connected over a network with authorized users and insurance carriers;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of the insurance information system;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating components of an authorized user system of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a search page for a full search mode of the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a summary page of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a detail page of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a search page for a quick search mode of the invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method of providing insurance information in a full search mode of the invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method of selecting a search;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a method of selecting a view in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]    FIGS.  11 A-C are flow charts illustrating the steps involved in modifying a view in an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the steps involved in viewing search results in accordance with an embodiment of the method of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding elements.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an insurance information system  100  residing on a host server  102 . The insurance information system  100  is connected over a network  400  with authorized users  200  and insurance or information carriers  300 .  
         [0024]    The host server  102  may be or include, for instance, a workstation running the Microsoft Windows™ NT™, Windows™ 2000, Unix, Linux, Xenix, IBM AIX™ Hewlett-Packard UX™, Novell Netware™, Sun Microsystems Solaris™, OS/2™ BeOS™, Mach, Apache, OpenStep™ or other operating system or platform.  
         [0025]    The insurance or information carrier or carriers  300  are shown as being linked to the insurance information system  100  over the network  400 . However, the carriers  300  may connect in any suitable manner with the insurance information system  100  in order to update information. Reports from carriers  300  could be provided to a host server administrator and subsequently manually uploaded. In a proposed technique, the initial data is loaded via tape and subsequent updates are electronically transferred and loaded into a insurance system database, which is further described below.  
         [0026]    The network  400  preferably comprises the Internet and the authorized users  200 , insurance or information carriers  300 , and the host server  102  may communicate with the network  400  in any well known manner. The communications links may be, include or interface to any one or more of, for instance, the Internet, an intranet, a PAN (Personal Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network) or a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), a storage area network (SAN), a frame relay connection, an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) connection, a synchronous optical network (SONET) connection, a digital T1, T3, E1 or E3 line, Digital Data Service (DDS) connection, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connection, an Ethernet connection, an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) line, a dial-up port such as a V.90, V.34 or V.34 bis analog modem connection, a cable modem, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) connection, or an FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) or CDDI (Copper Distributed Data Interface) connection. The communications link may furthermore be, include or interface to any one or more of a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) link, a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) link, a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) link, a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) or TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) link such as a cellular phone channel, a GPS (Global Positioning System) link, CDPD (cellular digital packet data), a RIM (Research in Motion, Limited) duplex paging type device, a Bluetooth radio link, or an IEEE 802.11-based radio frequency link. Communication may also be commplished by any one or more of an RS-232 serial connection, an IEEE-1394 (Firewire) connection, a Fibre Channel connection, an IrDA (infrared) port, a SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) connection, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection or other wired or wireless, digital or analog interface or connection.  
         [0027]    An embodiment of the authorized user system  200  is shown in FIG. 3. The displayed embodiment includes a controller  202 , a user interface device  204  such as a mouse, monitor, or keypad, a network interface  206 , a processor  208 , and a memory  210 . The authorized user  200  may take any known form, such as a personal computer running the Microsoft Windows™ 95, 98, Millenium™, NT™, or 2000, WindowsTMCE™, PalmOS™, Unix, Linux, Solaris™, OS/2™, BeOS™, MacOS™ or other operating system or platform. The processor  208  may include a microprocessor such as an Intel x86-based device, a Motorola 68K or PowerPC™ device, a MIPS, Hewlett-Packard Precision™, or Digital Equipment Corp. Alpha™ RISC processor, a microcontroller or other general or special purpose device operating under programmed control. The memory  210  may include electronic memory such as RAM (random access memory) or EPROM (electronically programmable read only memory), storage such as a harddrive, CDROM or rewritable CDROM or other magnetic, optical or other media, and other associated components connected over an electronic bus, as will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art. The network interface  206  may be or include a network-enabled appliance such as a WebTVTM unit, radio-enabled Palm™ Pilot or similar unit, a browser-equipped cellular telephone, or other TCP/IP client or other device.  
         [0028]    The insurance information system  100  is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. In the displayed embodiment, the insurance information system includes or interacts with a controller  110 , user interface tools  112 , network interface tools  120 , a processor  125  and a memory  130 . Tools for implementing the insurance information system may be stored in the memory  130 .  
         [0029]    A database  131  is constructed with the input of the insurance carriers  300 . Once constructed, the database includes information detailing commission information for a plurality of insurance agents. Updating tools  132  allow the database  130  to be continually updated by the insurance carriers  300  or by any entities having the authority to provide such updates. The database  131  may be, include or interface to, for example, the Oracle™ relational database sold commercially by Oracle Corp. Other databases, such as Informix™, DB2 (Database 2), Sybase or other data storage or query formats, platforms or resources such as OLAP (On Line Analytical Processing), SQL (Standard Query Language), a storage area network (SAN), Microsoft Access™ or others may also be used, incorporated or accessed in the invention.  
         [0030]    Web page display tools  134  provide web pages to the authorized users  200  to simplify user interaction. The provided web pages include at least a search page, a summary page, and a detail page, all of which are further described below in conjunction with FIGS.  4 - 7 .  
         [0031]    Authentication tools  135  are used to ensure that a user attempting to obtain access is an authorized user  200 . Preferably, authorized users  200  will be required to authenticate themselves through the use of a general agent or agent identification number in combination with a company code and a user ID. Preferably, the authtone model is employed. This model passes a user object containing the identification numbers and company code to the insurance information system  100  upon logon. The object authorizes the user  200  to view commissions data. A single user may have multiple identifications numbers and company codes linked to its user ID. In this manner, when an authorized user  200  initiates an inquiry, the authorized user  200  interacts with the communications tools  135  which extract all records for which there is a match between the user object and the records containing the agent identification number and company codes. Only the data which has the corresponding agent identification number and company code will be accessible to that particular authorized user  200 .  
         [0032]    The insurance information system  100  further comprises searching tools  136  that are used by the authorized user  200  to search for desired data contained within the database  131 . Such data is generally commissions data relevant to the authorized user. Sorting tools  137  sort the commissions data into an appropriate format in accordance with the request of the authorized user  200 .  
         [0033]    The insurance system  100  may further comprise calculation tools  138  which perform mathematical operations to obtain commissions statistics in accordance with the request of an authorized user  200 .  
         [0034]    If an authorized user  200  uses the authentication tools  135  and obtains access to the system  100 , the user  200  is presented with search options. A first search option is the full search option, which can be implemented using a web page  50  as shown in FIG. 4. Section  1  of the web page  50  provides the search criteria. A data entry area  10  can be used to search a policy number. A data entry area  11  provides a mechanism for searching over a specific time period. General agents enter identification numbers in a data entry area  12 . Commissionable agents enter the conmmissionable agent ID number in data entry area  13 . A data entry area  14  provides a variety of commission types. A data entry area  15  displays multiple companies, and finally a data entry area  16  displays product options.  
         [0035]    In section  2  of the search page  50 , the authorized user  200  is able to select a specific view in accordance with a selection box  20 . The options shown in selection box  20  include National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA), statement, all, and MYVIEW, which is a customized, user defined view. The MYVIEW option shown is for purposes of illustration only and generally only the first three of the aforementioned options are provided. The customized views are created generally through starting with the “all” view option and deleting unnecessary fields from the selected fields. This process is further explained below with reference to the provided flow charts. If the authorized user  200  elects to create a customized view such as the MYVIEW option, the authorized user  200  must define the customized view using selection boxes  21  and  22 , which display remaining fields and selected fields respectively. The authorized user  200  can use arrows  26  and  27  between the columns  21  and  22  for moving fields from the remaining fields column  21  to the selected fields column  22 . To change the order of the displayed fields, the authorized user  200  may click on a field in column  22  and use arrows  28  and  29 . In order to save a user created view, the authorized user  200  enters a name for the view in the data entry box  30  and presses the save button  23 . The authorized user  200  may delete and update views using delete view button  24  and update view button  25 .  
         [0036]    Section  3  of the search web page  50  provides a data entry box  35  for entering a sort field. The field that is selected for sorting must be one of the fields that is provided in the selected fields column  22 . The selection of a sort field determines the format in which transaction details will be viewed.  
         [0037]    After the authorized user  200  has entered all desired data and selected all desired views, the authorized user  200  may select to view results by selecting a view results button  41 . A summary page such as that shown in FIG. 5 will then be displayed. A reset button  42  resets the contents of the search form to predetermined default settings. A download results button  43  downloads transaction details in a semi-colon delimited ASCII format. A downloaded fields will be all of those contained in the view selected. A download results NAILBA format button  44  downloads the transaction details in NAILBA commissions download format. To download a NAILBA file, a statement date, company, and general agent identification number must be specified.  
         [0038]    As shown in FIG. 5, when the authorized user  200  performs a full search, a summary report  60  is provided in accordance with the selected views. In the example of FIG. 5, the summary report  60  includes a general agent ID column  61 , a statement date column  62 , a commissionable agent ID column  63 , a commission total column  64 , and a premium total column  65 . The summary page  60  further includes a detail link in column  69  for each entry. The summary page  60  further includes tools  67  for moving from page to page. A new search option  68  provides the user with a link back to the search page  50 .  
         [0039]    If the authorized user  200  selects to link with a detail from column  69 , the authorized user  200  is presented with the detail page  70  as shown in FIG. 6. The detail page  70  shows all requested data for a particular commissionable agent and general agent on a particular date. A policy column  71  shows the policy number. A commissionable agent ID column  72  shows the commissionable agent ID number. A writing agent ID column  73  shows the writing agent ID number. A general agent ID column  74  provides the general agent ID number. A commission type column  75  provides information as to whether the policy is a new policy or a renewal. An agent split column  76  provides information as to what the split percentage is between agents. Commission column  77  provides the agent&#39;s commission percentage. A commissionable premium column  78  provides the dollar amount on which the commission is based. A commission column  79  provides the dollar amount of the commission. A statement date column  80  provides the date of the statement and a company column  81  provides an insurance company name. Within the details page  70 , navigation buttons including a back button  82  and a new search button  83  are provided. A download button  84  provides a complete spreadsheet download of all of the information displayed in the selected view.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 7 illustrates a quick search page  500 . Three different types of quick searches are available. An authorized user  200  may execute a first type of quick search by performing a search on a policy number by entering the number in data entry space  501 . Alternatively, the authorized user  200  may perform a quick search by general agent. In this instance, the authorized user  200  selects the period range from data space  502  or selects a specific commission statement date. The authorized user  200  then fills in or selects the general agent number in space  502 . Furthermore, in this second quick search mode, the authorized user  200  must select the commission type, preferably as being one of “1st year”, “renewal”, and “all” in space  505 , and select the company field which in the displayed embodiment includes American Mayflower Life (AML) and First Colony Life (FCL), and “all” in space  506 . After the data is entered, an authorized user may view results by selecting the results button  510  and may download results using button  512 . A third quick search technique involves searching by agent. As with the second technique, data must be selected or entered in spaces  502 ,  505 , and  506 . However, the general agent space  503  can be left empty and the agent space  504  must be completed. In order to complete the agent space  504 , the authorized user  200  must enter the agent number and use a drop down box to select a type of agent identification, which preferably includes: commissionable agent ID; agent tax ID; agent tax ID; writing agent ID; or writing agent tax ID.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 8 illustrates a method of performing a search in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In procedure A, an authorized user gains access to the system. In procedure B, an authorized user  200  uses the web page  50  as shown in FIG. 4 and as provided by the web page display tools  134  to select search criteria. In procedure C, the authorized user  200  selects views as provided in section  2  of the web page  50 . In step D, the authorized user  200  selects a sort field. Finally, in procedure E, the authorized user  200  views results provided by the searching tools  136  and sorting tools  137 .  
         [0042]    Procedure A, as described above, generally involves the entry of a general agent identification number and company code. Upon logon, the user&#39;s identity is authenticated by the authentication tools  135 . The user  200  may be limited to a specific predetermined number of logon attempts.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 9 illustrates the details of procedure B. In step B 10 , the authorized user  200  elects to search by (1) policy number or by (2) any other criteria. If the authorized user  200  elects to search by policy number, the user  200  enters the policy number in step B 15 . If the authorized user  200  elects to perform the search based on other criteria, the authorized user  200  selects a time period or enters a date in step B 20 . In step B 25 , the authorized user  200  enters the general agent data or alternatively, data for another type of agent. In step B 30 , the authorized user  200  selects the commission type sought. In step B 35 , the authorized user  200  selects the company from a pull down list of companies.  
         [0044]    If the user desires a quick search in step B 40 , the user can select the view results button to obtain results in step B 45  which will be viewed in accordance with default settings. Alternatively, if the authorized user  200  would like to select views, the user  200  can proceed to procedure C in order to select the desired views.  
         [0045]    In FIG. 10, the authorized user  200  has the option in step C 5  to: (1) select an existing view; (2) modify an existing view; or (3) create a new view. If the user selects an existing view in step C 1 , the user  200  can then proceed to step D to select a sort field. If the user elects to modify an existing view in step C 2 , the user  200  selects at least one of: (a) adding fields; (b) removing fields; and (c) changing the order of the displayed fields. FIGS.  11 A- 11 C depict the aforementioned options and will be described in detail below. In step C 20 , the user  200  decides whether to keep the current view name. If the user  200  elects to change the view name, the user  200  enters a new name in step C 22  and saves the new name in step C 42 . Alternatively, if the old name is retained, the authorized user  200  clicks on the update view button in step C 24 . If the authorized user  200  selects option (3) of creating a new view, the user  200  selects “all” from in step C 30 . In step C 22 , the authorized user  200  selects one or more of (a) removing fields; and (b) changing the order of the fields as further described below in conjunction with FIGS.  11 A- 11 C. In step C 40 , the authorized user  200  selects a new name for the view. In step C 42 , the user  200  saves the view, and in step C 50 , the authorized user  200  proceeds to step D. Step D entails selecting a sort variable to determine how the results will be sorted by the sorting tools  137 .  
         [0046]    FIGS.  11 A- 11 C illustrate the view modification methods of an embodiment of the invention. Procedure C 100  illustrates the procedure of adding fields to the view. In step C 102 , the authorized user  200  selects fields to be added from the remaining fields column  21  of web page  50 . In step C 104 , the authorized user  200  utilizes arrow  27  to move the highlighted remaining field to the selected fields column  22 . If additional fields are to be added to the view, step C 106  begins the loop of repeating the aforementioned steps.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 11B illustrates the procedure C 200  of removing fields from the view. In step C 202 , the authorized user  200  selects the field to be removed from the selected fields column C 202 . In step C 204 , the authorized user  200  clicks on arrow  26  to move the highlighted selected field to the remaining fields column  21 . Finally, in step C 206 , if additional fields are to be deleted from the review, the loop of the aforementioned steps is repeated.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 11C illustrates the steps involved in changing the order of the fields. In step C 302 , the authorized user  200  selects the field name to be moved from the selected fields column  22 . In step C 304 , the user  200  clicks on the up of down arrows  28  and  29  to move the selected field. Finally, in step  306 , if more fields are to be moved, the loop of steps  302  and  304  is repeated. Once the user  200  has moved all fields as desired, the insurance information system  100  displays results in accordance with procedure E as shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0049]    The insurance information system  100  displays results when the authorized user  200  selects the view results button  41 . If a full search has been implemented, the insurance information system produces a summary page as shown in FIG. 5, which includes a link in column  69  to detailed results. Upon selection of detailed results in step E 12 , the insurance information system  100  displays the detailed results page in step E 14  to the authorized user  200  as shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0050]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the system and process of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.