Patent Publication Number: US-2010125466-A1

Title: System and method of dispensing insurance through a computer network

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/673,332, filed Feb. 9, 2007 and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISPENSING INSURANCE THROUGH A COMPUTER NETWORK.” The &#39;332 application is a continuation application of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/051,645, filed Jan. 18, 2002 and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISPENSING INSURANCE THROUGH A COMPUTER NETWORK” (aka U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,017, issued on Jul. 3, 2007). The &#39;645 application is a non-provisional of and claims priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,534, filed Jan. 18, 2001 and entitled “Coveragemaker.” This application hereby incorporates by reference these prior applications in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to systems and methods for dispensing insurance services through a computer network. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In service-oriented industries such as the insurance industry, offices traditionally were staffed with sales personnel working on a one-to-one basis with walk-in or phone-in customers. Often personnel time would be inefficient since advice and quotations given do not result in a sale. The potential customer might have been under sales pressure, and had to visit or call various companies in order to obtain competing coverages and prices. Thus, time and energy would be wasted for both the industry and the customer, increasing the cost of receiving such services and thereby reducing their demand. 
     Some individual insurance companies have more recently had sites on the Internet where they provide information or quotes regarding their products. Such websites may be advertised in various ways, including through registering with popular search engines. However, it may be necessary for a potential customer to go to the websites of several insurance companies in order to get competing quotes, typically spending considerable time inputting the same data at each website. 
     A need exists for potential purchasers of insurance to be able to go to one location or website, input information, and receive quotes for insurance from a plurality of competing insurance companies. In addition, a need exists for insurance companies offering competitive products to be able to advertise and communicate more efficiently and effectively with customers looking for their products and services. Further, a need exists for insurance brokers or agents to be able to more efficiently sell a variety of insurance products from a plurality of insurance companies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides, inter alia, systems and methods for automatically dispensing information, services and products to customers or their insurance agents, which may be carried out by the customer in a self-service fashion. Such systems and methods may be used, for example, for automatically dispensing insurance quotations and policies. Thus, embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods of distributing insurance that minimize or replace the antiquated and costly gathering of information by telephone or in person, and dispensing of forms and documents by hand, via Telecopier, Fax, or regular mail. 
     Accordingly, it is a feature of various embodiments of the present invention to provide an automatic and efficient system and method for dispensing information and contractual services to the general public on a self-service basis by accessing the system from the Internet. It is a further feature of various embodiments of the invention to provide such a system which is particularly useful for dispensing information, goods and services such as insurance quotations and policy binder agreements. It is also a feature of various embodiments of this invention to provide the general public with information about comparable insurance coverages from several sources for comparison purposes and in some embodiments to automatically generate and issue insurance binder agreements or insurance policies according to a customer&#39;s choices or specifications. An additional feature of various embodiments of this invention is to provide such services by means of a network request from an automated “agent” for the orderly collection of essential information. It is yet another feature of various embodiments of the invention to provide a system which reduces the overall cost of such services by lowering the personnel and office expenses and overheads. 
     Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention may change and automate many office functions, and may benefit many of the people and entities involved in the industry by reducing paperwork, safely storing and automatically backing up valuable documents, and by reducing workload. Documents may be updated with substantially real-time processing resulting in accurate reporting without waiting for commonly-used, end-of-day processing. In addition, the network may be linked to many computers worldwide, such as the Internet. In some embodiments, virtually any person at any location in the world may be able use the system and method as long as Internet access is available. 
     The system and method of this invention may allow a potential customer or customer quick and easy access to insurance quotations from more than one company simultaneously, and may allow the customer to select, purchase and receive their documents on a self-service and substantially real-time basis. The operations of gathering information, processing their credit card payment, and issuing policies, may be carried out in substantially real time and automatically. This may result in considerable savings in time and money for the customer and insurance companies alike, and may potentially result in more sales since the number of Internet-connected computers far exceeds what would normally be serviced using current practice by insurance offices and representatives. From the insurance industry&#39;s perspective, it may be that many members of the public may be more willing to purchase insurance when they can obtain their policy so easily and quickly, without any sales pressure. In addition, insurance companies may have significant savings on overhead costs. 
     In addition, this system and method may be applied to many other types of customer service and sales industries. Some examples may be banking, title companies, and financial service companies, and other service industries. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a network-based system for facilitating the dispensing of insurance. The system generally receives policy information (for instance, insurance rates and underwriting guidelines, which may be received via the network) from a plurality of insurance companies, and may also contract (e.g., through the network) with insurance companies to sell the companies&#39; insurance policies in accordance with the policy information provided by them. The system may receive customer data (for instance, identification of the desired type of insurance and parameters applicable to the underwriting guidelines) via the network from one or more customers, and provide to each customer (e.g., via the network) insurance rates for insurance policies from a plurality of competing insurance companies. The insurance company may be identified for each insurance rate quotation. The system may also: receive from the customer (e.g., via the network) an instruction to purchase an insurance policy; receive a payment or a promise to pay; and facilitate the electronic distribution of proof of coverage to the location of the customer (e.g., printing at the location of the customer, a document providing proof of coverage). 
     In some embodiments, the system may be further configured to receive the customer data and an instruction to purchase that were input by an insurance broker or agent (herein insurance agent) on behalf of the customer, receive the payment or promise to pay via the insurance agent, and facilitate printing via a printer controlled by the insurance agent (for the insurance agent to give to the customer). The type of insurance offered for sale may be, for example, automobile or specialty insurance, and may provide coverage exclusively in a specific country (which may be other than the one in which the customer resides). The system may further be configured to store the policy information and customer data, and provide customer service (e.g., notifying customers of changes in the policy information), and may even provide claims service. 
     The network may be, for example, the Internet. In such embodiments, the system may be configured to receive customer data and instructions to purchase that were input directly by the customer into a computer accessed directly by the customer. Similarly, the system may be configured to receive the payment or promise to pay via the Internet, and/or facilitate printing directly by the customer via a printer accessed by the customer. In some embodiments, the system may be configured to receive customers from insurance agents who perform advertising (for instance, registering with one or more search engines). The system may be further configured to pay the insurance companies the rates of insurance policies issued minus commissions, and pay the insurance agents their appropriate commissions. 
     The present invention further provides an Internet-based method of facilitating the dispensing of insurance, which may include, in any order, at least the steps of: storing policy information; contracting with insurance agents; receiving customer data, providing insurance rates; receiving an instruction to purchase an insurance policy; receiving a payment; storing at least part of the customer data; and facilitating the electronic distribution of proof of coverage to the location of the customer. This may involve, for instance, directing customers to a website. For instance, the insurance agents may have websites that may be registered with search engines, and customers may be received via links from the insurance agents&#39; websites. The method may further include paying the insurance agents for customers that purchased insurance received via their links. Non-agents&#39; websites may also refer customers, and the method may include paying the non-agents. There may be competing insurance companies, and the method may include reporting to the insurance companies an accounting of the insurance policies that have been issued and the appropriate customer data, and paying the insurance companies premiums for the insurance policies that have been issued. Such methods may be performed by, for instance, a general agent or an insurance company. 
     The present invention even further provides another Internet-based method of facilitating the dispensing of insurance. This method generally includes in combination, and in any order, at least the steps of: offering quotes through an Internet website on insurance policies from a plurality of insurance companies, and offering quotes through the Internet website on insurance policies through a plurality of insurance agents. The insurance agents may, for example, log into the website. The method generally also includes the steps of: offering quotes through the Internet website on insurance policies directly to members of the public who log into the website, and offering quotes through the Internet website to members of the public through links on insurance agents&#39; websites. The quotes may be offered to customers, at least some of whom may be at different locations. Some customers may accept at least one of the quotes and agree to purchase an insurance policy. In addition, in some embodiments, the method further includes the step of facilitating the electronic distribution of proof of coverage to the locations of the customers who agree to purchase insurance policies. 
     The present invention still further provides, in another exemplary embodiment, a method of an insurance company selling insurance policies. The method may include (in any order) the steps of providing policy information to a managing general agent, and authorizing the general agent to sell the insurance company&#39;s insurance. The general agent may be, for instance, a separate company, part of the insurance company, or another insurance company. The general agent will generally receive data (e.g., via the Internet) from customers, provide to the customer insurance rates (for insurance, for policies from a plurality of competing companies which may be identified for each insurance rate), and receive from the customer an instruction to purchase an insurance policy. The general agent may also receive payment (or a promise to pay) and facilitate the electronic distribution of proof of coverage to the location of the customer (e.g., printing a document). The method will generally also include the steps of receiving from the general agent: an accounting of the insurance policies that have been issued, at least part of the customer data, and payment for the insurance policies that have been issued. 
     The general agent may contract with a plurality of insurance agents who may advertise the general agent&#39;s services. The general agent may have a website configured to receive the customer data, provide the rates, receive customer instructions to purchase, and facilitate the electronic distribution of proof of coverage. The insurance agents may refer customers to the website and the general agent may pay the insurance agents commissions and the insurance company for the insurance policies sold. The customers may also be referred to the website from non-agents; and the general agent may pay the non-agents for referrals as well. The method may also include the steps of verifying the customer data received and/or adjusting claims submitted by the customers. In other respects, various methods in accordance with the present invention may be similar to the system described above, and vice versa. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of an exemplary method in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is another flow chart illustrating the steps of another exemplary method in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     According to various embodiments of the present invention, an automatic system and method for dispensing valuable documents (such as binder agreements for insurance policies) may be provided. The system may comprise, as an example, a server and computers connected via a network such as the Internet. The network may be linked to information sources of one or more of various companies containing information, for instance, to calculate premiums and to issue official documents. The computers may provide self-service sales to end users (consumers, such as potential customers or policyholders, collectively herein called customers) or sales through other real insurance agents. Embodiments having an insurance agent, may have a system of affiliate identification, a way to process payments, and a printing device or printer to furnish the customer with a permanent record of the issuance of valuable documents such as a document providing proof of (insurance) coverage or an insurance binder. 
     In this general embodiment of the present invention, the server may automatically store detailed information regarding services and pricing, as well as regarding customer sales completed by each carrier (e.g., insurance company) and sub-producer (e.g., insurance agent). The server may be programmed to offer each carrier and sub-producer, constantly or frequently updated information on sales and commissions due for each carrier and sub-producer. The server may also be programmed to receive information on any changes in rates or services, and may automatically update the information stored accordingly. The server may further be programmed to offer a predetermined sequence of gathering and providing information from/to a customer on the services in which the customer may be interested, and of transmitting the gathered information to the server. In response to the receipt of gathered information, the server may extract the information requested to be provided by the customer from storage and transmit it back via the network where it may be relayed to the customer. In some embodiments, the server can subsequently accept an instruction to purchase for the offered services from the customer, collect the payment from the customer, and dispense official documents (e.g., proof of coverage) to the customer. The server may then automatically update in substantially real time the information stored (for example, in a database) regarding sales, commissions due for each carrier and sub-producer, master agent direct sales, and backup timing. 
     The figures include flow charts illustrating various steps of various embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of methods in accordance with the present invention may contain, inter alia, steps from one or more of these drawing figures. As examples of various steps that may be performed, queries from a customer may be accepted by the server, the server may solicit any necessary information or customer data from the customer, and data may be exchanged with the server. In addition, relevant data (e.g., customer data) may be retrieved from one or more data sources, processed, and transmitted to the terminal, and if the customer elects to make a credit card or debit card purchase of goods or services in response to the information received, a credit check may be requested from a credit information source. Further, on credit approval, the requested goods or services (e.g., an insurance policy) may be dispensed (or a document providing proof thereof) in consideration for customer&#39;s payment by credit card or other form of payment, and information on the transaction may be transmitted to the relevant company&#39;s (e.g., insurance company) data source. In other words, the server may be suitably and securely interfaced to a credit card payment gateway for accepting payments from a customer in response to an instruction to purchase. Such a system and method can, for example, be used in the insurance industry. 
     The system and method may also store and verify account numbers for the carriers and sub-producers through utilization of which they may allow or restrict authorization to deliver information and/or make any changes in prices or services. There may be, as an example, four levels in which authorization may be given. The first level may be standard web-to-web sales, the second level may be insurance agent sales without the ability to do any editing, the third level may be insurance agent sales with editing capability at the time of the sale and the fourth level may be the master of the universe that can void or edit any aspect of the system at any time. 
     Accordingly,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system  100  in accordance with the present invention that relates specifically to providing or dispensing insurance services or insurance. System  100  may be, for example, a network-based system for facilitating the dispensing or sale of insurance. System  100  may consist of general agent  160 , which may include, control, or use, server  150 . General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may be in communication (either directly or through someone else) with some combination of insurance companies (e.g.,  111  and  112 ), insurance agents (e.g.,  121  and  122 ), customers (e.g., customers  101  and  102 ), advertisers (e.g., advertiser  131 ) and other businesses (e.g., business  141 ) which may refer customers to general agent  160 . Server  150  may be programmed to gather and process the required information by way of scripted functions which may have been customized as may be necessary to facilitate the dispensing of official documents from the various companies. As used herein, a customer (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) may include a person, business, organization, entity, software, hardware, or the like who is, has been, or may be interested in purchasing insurance. Customers  101  and  102  may be, for instance, policyholders or potential customers (e.g., interested in purchasing insurance). As used herein, an insurance company (e.g.,  111  or  112 ) may include an insurance underwriter or insurer (e.g., a company or business enterprise that sells insurance or assumes the risks of others, e.g., in exchange for payment). System  100  may be managed by a general agent  160  as described herein. General agent  160  may control or operate all or part of server  150 . 
     Communication may be (in whole or in part) via a network, which may be, for example, the Internet, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). Communication with customers (e.g.,  101 ) may be through insurance agents (e.g.,  121  as shown in  FIG. 1 ) or directly (e.g., be directly through the network, e.g., as shown in  FIG. 1  for customer  102 ). Communication through insurance agents (e.g.,  121  as shown in  FIG. 1 ) may be, for example, through in-person contact with the insurance agent, by telephone, or by e-mail. Customers (e.g., customer  102 ) may contact the insurance companies (e.g.,  111 ) directly, through an insurance agent, or through the present invention (e.g., server  150 ) for the making and adjustment of claims. Advertiser  131  may include various Internet advertisers or other traditional sources of advertisement (e.g., in the entertainment or information industry). Other businesses  141  may include, for example, dealers for equipment (e.g., cars or recreational vehicles) that may be insured, travel agents, and the like, but generally will not include licensed insurance agents. Insurance agents (e.g.,  121  and  122 ) may be licensed insurance agents who may have offices where they sell insurance and/or may have websites that offer insurance for sale. In some embodiments, agents (e.g.,  121  and  122 ) may be unlicensed insurance distributors. 
     Embodiments of the present invention (e.g., server  150 ) may gather and categorize information, for example, from typical Internet-connected computers or terminals. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a user&#39;s (e.g., a customer  102  or an insurance agent  121  acting on behalf of a customer  101 ) computer will typically include various conventional support software and drivers typically associated with computers. The users (e.g., customers  102  or insurance agent  121 ) may interact with server  150  or other aspects of system  100  via any input device such as a keyboard, mouse, kiosk, personal digital assistant, handheld computer (e.g., Palm Pilot®), cellular phone and/or the like. Similarly, the invention could be used (e.g., server  150  could be accessed) in conjunction with any type of personal computer, network computer, workstation, minicomputer, mainframe, or the like running any operating system such as any version of Windows, Windows NT, Windows2000, Windows 98, Windows 95, 95/98/2000, MacOS, OS/2, BeOS, Linux, UNIX, Solaris, ArcSoft (GIS) or the like. 
     Server  150  of system  100  may include a host server or other computing system, including, as examples: a processor for processing digital data; a memory (e.g., containing database  152 ) coupled to the processor for storing digital data; an input digitizer coupled to the processor for inputting digital data; an application program stored in the memory and accessible by the processor for directing the processing of digital data by the processor; a display coupled to the processor and memory for displaying information derived from digital data processed by the processor; and one or more databases (e.g.,  152 ), which may include input data, historical data, specification data and/or like data and information that could be used in association with the present invention. 
     The software elements of the present invention, for instance used in conjunction with server  150 , may be implemented with one or more of various types of computer software or programs. For instance, a programming or scripting language may be used such as C, C++, Java, COBOL, assembler, PERL, extensible markup language (XML), with the various algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. Further, it should be noted that the present invention may employ (e.g., in the network) any number of conventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, network control, and the like. Still further, the invention could detect or prevent security issues with a client-side scripting language, such as JavaScript, VBScript or the like. 
     Database  152  (e.g., used with server  150 ) may be of a variety of types, such as relational, hierarchical, object-oriented, and/or the like. Common database products that may be used to implement database  152  include DB2 by IBM (White Plains, N.Y.), any of the database products available from Oracle Corporation (Redwood Shores, Calif.), Microsoft Access by Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Wash.), or another database product. Database  152  may be organized in a suitable manner, including as data tables or lookup tables. Association of certain data may be accomplished through a data association technique such as those known and practiced in the art. 
     Turning to how the various equipment associated with the present invention may be configured to interact in various embodiments of the present invention, the system and method of the present invention, as described herein, may carry out various steps. In this regard, the present invention may be described herein in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware, firmware, and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions, including those components described above. It should also be understood that the exemplary processes illustrated may include more or less steps or may be performed in the context of a larger processing scheme. Furthermore, the various flowcharts presented in the drawing figures are not to be construed as limiting the order in which the individual process steps may be performed. 
     Accordingly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be directed to a system and method for automatically dispensing insurance quotations, policies, proof of insurance, or other valuable documents such as stock certificates. Still referring occasionally to  FIG. 1 , but also introducing  FIG. 2 , general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) generally receives policy information (step  202 ), for instance, insurance rates and underwriting guidelines, which may be received via the network from a plurality of insurance companies (e.g.,  111  and  112 ). Underwriting guidelines may include, as examples, in the case of automobile insurance, vehicle type, the age of the driver, the driver&#39;s driving record, and any other parameters or factors which insurance companies (e.g.,  111  and  112 ) may use to determine the rates they charge to various customers (e.g.,  101  and  102 ). The policy information (e.g., received in step  202 ) may be programmed into server  150 , for instance, in database  152 , or a link may be provided to a remote server or other data storage device. The insurance companies (e.g.,  111  and  112 ) may have access to update the policy information, for instance as rates change. 
     General agent  160  (described in more detail below) may also contract (e.g., through the network) with insurance companies (e.g.,  111  and  112 ) (step  204 ) to sell the companies&#39; (e.g.,  111  and  112 ) insurance policies in accordance with the policy information (obtained in step  202 ). The contract (of step  204 ) may be, for instance, a written contract, an agreement entered into via a network (e.g., the Internet), an understanding based on established business practices, performance in accordance with an open-ended offer, a partnership, a joint business venture, forming a corporation together, and the like. General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may also receive customer information or data (step  210 ), for instance, identification of the desired type of insurance (type of insurance the customer, e.g.,  101  or  102 , is interested in purchasing, for instance, automobile insurance, specialty insurance, home owner&#39;s insurance, Mexican insurance, and the like) and various parameters applicable to the underwriting guidelines (i.e., parameters which influence the rates or whether insurance may be issued (received in step  202 )). In other words, the parameters applicable to the underwriter guidelines include information that may be needed or desirable to apply the underwriter guidelines to determine whether the customer qualifies for insurance and what rates to charge. A customer (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) may be asked pertinent questions, for instance, regarding the value of the property to be insured, the insurance desired, and any other information necessary or desirable to process a quotation for that particular type of insurance. 
     The gathered data (customer data) may be sent to the server (e.g.,  150 ) where the data may be processed and interpreted. The customer may be asked first for basic information or data, which may be used (e.g., by server  150 ) to determine what additional, more-detailed information (customer data) is requested and obtained. Various fields on particular pages on a web site may be required to be satisfied (e.g., by customer  102 ) before proceeding to the next page or step. The customer data (e.g., received in step  210 ) may be stored, for instance, in database  152 . 
     The customer data may be received (step  210 ) via the network from one or more customers. For instance, the data may be received (step  210 ) from customer  101 , who may have used insurance agent  121 , who may have actually input the data. On the other hand, the data may have been input by customer  101  after being referred to general agent  160  by insurance agent  121 . As another option, the information may be received from customer  102 , who may have directly input the information without using a separate insurance agent. Various embodiments may feature various combinations of these options. 
     General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may further provide (in step  212 ), for instance, to each customer (e.g.,  101  or  102 , which may also be via the network) quotes for insurance policies or insurance rates for insurance policies from a one or more (e.g., a plurality of) competing insurance companies (e.g., companies  111  and/or  112 ). The insurance company (e.g.,  111  or  112 ), offering the policy may be identified for each insurance rate (e.g., in step  212 ) so that the customer will be aware of the source of the insurance and may apply any knowledge or opinions he may have regarding the company, for instance regarding claims service, which may be from the customer&#39;s past experience, the reputation of the insurance company, a industry or governmental entity which tracks the performance of or rates insurance companies, or advertising by the insurance company or others. The insurance company offering each policy may be identified, for instance, by showing the name of the insurance company, its initials, or its logo, next to the rate. In some embodiments, the insurance company offering each policy may be identified for some (e.g., a plurality of) policies, but rates for other policies may also be provided without identifying the insurance company (e.g., to appeal to customers who may have a low opinion of the insurance company or may wish to purchase insurance without considering the reputation of the company). 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes in combination, and in any order, at least the steps of: offering quotes (step  212 ) for instance through an Internet website on insurance policies from one or more insurance companies (e.g.,  111  and  112 ), and offering quotes (step  212 ) (which may also be through the Internet website) on insurance policies, through a plurality of insurance agents (e.g.,  121 ). The insurance agents (e.g.,  121 ) may, for example, log into the website (e.g., via server  150 ). The method generally also includes the steps of: offering quotes (step  212 ) on insurance policies directly to members of the public (e.g., customer  102 ) who log into the website, and offering quotes (step  212 ) to members of the public (e.g., customer  101 ) through links on insurance agents&#39; (e.g.,  121 ) websites. The quotes (e.g., provided in step  212 ) may be offered to customers (e.g.,  101  and  102 ), at least some of whom may be at different physical locations, which may be many miles apart. Some customers (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) may accept at least one of the quotes (provided in step  212 ) and agree to purchase an insurance policy (step  214  and/or  215 ). In addition, in some embodiments, the method further includes facilitating the electronic distribution of proof of coverage (step  218 ) to the locations of the customers (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) who agree to purchase insurance policies. 
     General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may then (after providing the rate in step  212 ) receive (e.g., in step  214 ) from the customer (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) an instruction (one or more instructions) to purchase an insurance policy, if the customer (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) elects to do so (in step  214 ). General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may also receive from customer (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) an indication of which insurance policy the customer chooses to purchase (step  215 ). 
     General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may also receive a payment or a promise to pay (step  216 , which may include a credit check or verification, which may be via a network), and facilitate the electronic distribution of proof of coverage to the location of the customer (e.g., in step  218 , e.g., customer  101  or  102 ). In an exemplary embodiment, a document providing proof of coverage may be printed, and electronic distribution may include providing access to a web page to print, sending an e-mail or e-mail attachment, sending a facsimile, and the like. The proof of coverage may be, as examples, an electronic copy of the insurance policy or a summary thereof that may be stored on a portable electronic device, a hard (paper) copy of the insurance policy, a binder, a proof-of-insurance card, or the like. For instance, general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may transmit digital data or instructions to print a document (step  218 ) providing proof of coverage (insurance coverage) at the printer of the customer, or make available a screen which when printed provides proof of coverage. Electronic distribution of proof of coverage may include providing information or data that may be stored electronically (e.g., on a personal digital assistant (PDA), smart card, or the like). Thus, customers  101  or  102  may be able to bind insurance coverage virtually immediately. The proof of coverage may show, as examples, a combination of: the dates of coverage, the name and logo of the insurance company (e.g.,  111  or  112 ), the type of coverage, the person or persons covered, a policy number, where the insurance is applicable, the amount paid, coverage limits, and the like. 
     Thus, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, after being provided the rates (step  212 ) the customer (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) may be given an opportunity to immediately select (steps  214  and  215 ) an insurance policy, and purchase it (steps  216  and  218 ) from one of the institutions (e.g., insurance companies  111  or  112 ), and download or print it or proof of purchasing it (step  218 ) at the customer&#39;s location. For instance, if an insurance policy binder is desired (e.g., to be printed in step  218 ), payment may be processed (step  216 ) and a policy or document proving possession thereof (e.g., a document providing proof of coverage) may be printed (step  218 ) on the customer&#39;s printer attached to the customer&#39;s computer. A prospective insurance purchaser (e.g., customer  101  or  102 ) may quickly receive a plurality of quotes (step  212 ) from various institutions at virtually any time, in many embodiments without having to submit information to a real person or be subjected to an in-person sales presentation. 
     In some embodiments, general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may be further configured to receive the customer data (step  210 ) and instructions (one instruction or more) to purchase (steps  214  and  215 ) that were input or input by an insurance agent (e.g.,  121 ) on behalf of the customer (e.g.,  101 ). This information may be input, for instance, at the insurance agent&#39;s (e.g.,  121 ) office, and the customer (e.g.,  101 ) may be present at the insurance agent&#39;s office, (e.g.,  121 ) or in contact with him, e.g., via phone or e-mail. In such embodiments (or others), a contract may be entered (step  206 ) with the insurance agent (e.g.,  121 ) to sell the insurance. General agent  160  may receive (step  216 ) the payment (e.g., cash or money order) or promise to pay (e.g., via credit card) via the insurance agent (e.g.,  121 ), and facilitate printing (step  218 ) via a printer controlled by the same insurance agent (e.g., for the insurance agent  121  to give to the customer  101 ). In other words, the insurance agent (e.g.,  121 ) may take the payment or promise to pay (e.g., cash, check, or charge) from the customer (e.g.,  101 ), and may send payment (e.g., minus a commission) to general agent  160 . General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may calculate the amount of net premium (e.g., gross premium paid to the insurance agent less commission), which may be due, e.g., monthly. General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may bill the insurance agent (e.g.,  121 ) or may subtract what the insurance agent (e.g.,  121 ) owes general agent  160  from what general agent  160  owes the insurance agent (e.g.,  121 ). In other embodiments, the insurance agent (e.g.,  121 ) may send payment directly to the insurance companies (e.g.,  111  and/or  112 ), who may pay general agent  160 . 
     The insurance of various embodiments of the present invention may be, for example, automobile or specialty insurance, or may provide coverage exclusively in a country other than the one in which the customer (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) resides. Specialty insurance, as used herein, includes specialty consumer insurance or personal lines of insurance, as the terms are used in the insurance industry, and includes, as examples, insurance for recreational vehicles (RV&#39;s) including motor homes and trailers, boats, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV&#39;s), sand rails, off-road vehicles (ORV&#39;s), jet skis, and the like. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the network (e.g., described above) may be, for example, the Internet. In such embodiments, general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may be configured to receive data (step  210 ) and instructions to purchase (steps  214  and  215 ) that were input or input directly by the customer (e.g.,  102  into a computer accessed directly by customer  102 ). Similarly, the general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may be configured to receive the payment or promise to pay (step  216 ) via the Internet, and/or facilitate the electronic distribution of proof of coverage (step  218 ) to the location of the customer (e.g.,  102 ). For instance, a document providing proof of coverage may be printed directly by the customer via a printer accessed by the customer (e.g.,  102 ). In various embodiments of the present invention, time may be saved by automatically qualifying the buyer (e.g., customer  101  or  102 ). If the customer ( 101  or  102 ) elects to purchase (e.g., an insurance policy), a secure, encrypted web page may be made to appear where the customer&#39;s ( 101  or  102 ) credit card information may be gathered, the network or server  150  may initiate a credit check and, on approval, dispense the electronic or paper document (step  218 ) (e.g., an insurance policy or proof of coverage). 
     In some embodiments, the general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may be configured to receive customers (e.g.,  101 ) from insurance agents (e.g.,  121 ) who perform advertising (step  208 ). For instance, insurance agents (e.g.,  121 ) may have their own web page (or a plurality of web pages) and may register with one or more search engines or may have rights to one or more domain names that may be reached frequently by customers (e.g.,  101 ). The insurance agents&#39; (e.g.,  121 ) web page may have various meta tags configured so that the insurance agents&#39; web pages are identified by the search engines when customers (e.g.,  102 ) search for insurance companies (e.g.,  111  or  112 ) with the search engines. Once a customer (e.g.,  101 ) reach the insurance agent&#39;s (e.g.,  121 ) website, the customer (e.g.,  101 ) may be sent, for instance via a link, to general agent&#39;s  160  website (e.g., via server  150 ) where general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may connect with the customer (step  209 ) through the website, identify which insurance agent referred the customer for purposes of paying commissions, receive customer data (step  210 ), etc. 
     General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may be further configured to pay (step  220 ) the insurance companies (e.g.,  111  and  112 ) the insurance premiums (e.g., the rates of insurance policies issued minus commissions), and pay (step  222 ) the insurance agents (e.g.,  121  and  122 ) their appropriate commissions. The insurance agents (e.g.,  121  or  122 ) may be paid, for instance, commissions on sales of insurance, which may be a percentage of the premium. Commissions may be paid or sent out each month (e.g., checks by regular mail or electronic payments into designated accounts). 
     General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may also pay others who refer business (step  224 ), such as businesses who sell the products that are being insured, travel agents, and other entities other than insurance agents (non-agents). For instance, a boat dealer may have on his website a link to general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) which may provide boat insurance, or a travel agent who provides travel services to Mexico may have a link on his website to general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) which may provide Mexican automobile insurance. Payments for such referrals (paid in step  224  e.g., to non-agents) may be based on the number of referrals rather than on the premiums collected or policies sold, and may also be paid, periodically (e.g., monthly). 
     General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may also store (for instance, in database  152 ) the policy information and customer data (e.g., received in steps  202  and  210 , e.g., through server  150 ), and may report (step  226 ) information and data to the insurance companies (e.g.,  111  and  112 ) provide customer service (step  227 ) and may even provide claims service (step  228 ). Customer service (provided in step  227 ) may include, for instance, sending renewal notices, billing customers, notifying customers of changes in the policy information (e.g., rates or coverage), providing notices of hazards, and the like. 
     Thus, general agent  160  may service the product for the insurance companies (e.g.,  111  and  112 ). The information that is reported (step  226 ) may include some or all of the customer data (obtained in step  210 ), information regarding payment (e.g., received in step  216 ), other information from previous transactions, and the like. To obtain the information, the insurance company (e.g.,  111  or  112 ), as an example, may obtain a report from a website at a time selected by the insurance company (e.g.,  111  or  112 ), or may receive a report (e.g., an e-mail from server  150 ), which may be sent by general agent  160  or server  150  at particular times (e.g., daily or monthly). Customers (e.g.,  101  and  102 ) and insurance agents (e.g.,  121  and  122 ) may be sent or obtain (step  226 ) reports similarly. The information reported (e.g., in step  226 ), and other information and data (e.g., used in steps  218 ,  220 ,  222 ,  224 ,  227 , or  228 ) may be stored in, or retrieved from, for instance, database  152 . 
     Accordingly, various embodiments of system  100  and method  200  as applied to the insurance industry may offer personalized insurance quotations (step  212 ), make sales or take orders (e.g., steps  214  and  215 ), collect the premiums (step  216 ), and may make pertinent information available (step  226 ) to the respective insurance company (e.g.,  111  or  112 ) on a substantially real-time basis. The respective insurance company (e.g.,  111  or  112 ) may have reduced paperwork, less overhead costs, and access to accurate information substantially in real time (e.g., via step  226 ). The various reports (e.g., from step  226 ) may allow each company, carrier and sub-producer to view data in system  100  as necessary or desirable. A quotation analysis report may give listings by carrier and/or sub-producer, service type; by company, by date; or based on other data being gathered. Thus service companies (e.g., insurance companies  111  or  112 ) may be able to analyze the areas where more quotes are being requested. The rates may be updated by adding the rate files for each type of service offered by each company. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the present invention further provides a method  300  of an insurance company (e.g.,  111  or  112 ) marketing or selling insurance policies. Method  300  may include (in any order) the steps of providing policy information (step  302 ) to a managing general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ), and authorizing (step  304 ) general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) to market or sell the insurance company&#39;s (e.g., company  111  or  112 ) insurance. Information and data manipulated in method  300 , may be stored in database  152 , which may be at server  150 . Although referred to herein as being a separate entity, the role of general agent  160  may be performed by an insurance company. 
     Referring back for a moment to  FIG. 2 , and also to  FIG. 1 , general agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) will generally receive customer data (step  210 , e.g., via the Internet) from customers (e.g.,  101  or  102 ), provide to the customer (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) insurance rates (step  212 , for insurance, for policies from a plurality of competing companies, e.g.,  111  and  112 , which may be identified for each insurance rate), and receive from the customer (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) instructions to purchase an insurance policy (e.g., in steps  214  and/or  215 ). One or more of these steps may be though an insurance agent (e.g.,  121 ), for instance, as described herein. General agent  160  (e.g., via server  150 ) may also receive payment (or a promise to pay, e.g., in step  216 ) and facilitate the electronic distribution of proof of coverage (e.g., step  218 , which may be to the location of the customer  101  or  102 ). Method  300  will generally also include the steps of receiving from general agent  160  (e.g., from server  150 ): an accounting (step  326 ) of the insurance policies that have been issued (e.g., which may be as reported in step  226 , and generally including at least part of the customer data received in step  210 ) and payment (step  320 , as paid in step  220 ) generally for the insurance policies that have been issued. 
     General agent  160  may contract (e.g., through server  150 ) with one or a plurality of insurance agents (e.g.,  121  and  122 ) who may perform advertising (e.g., step  208 ). General agent  160  may have a website (e.g., on server  150 ) configured to receive the customer data (step  210 ), provide the rates (step  212 ), receive the instructions to purchase (e.g., for steps  214  and/or  215 ), and facilitate the electronic distribution of proof of coverage (step  218 ). The insurance agents (e.g.,  121 ) may refer customers (e.g.,  101 ) to the website and general agent  160  may pay the insurance agents&#39; (e.g.,  212 ) commissions (step  222 ) and the insurance companies&#39; (e.g.,  111  or  112 ) premiums (step  220 ) for the insurance policies sold. Thus, general agent  160  may effectively manage the insurance companies&#39; (e.g.,  111  and  112 ) transactions with its insurance agents (e.g.,  121  and  122 ). 
     The customers (e.g.,  101  or  102 ) may also be referred to the website from non-agents (e.g., advertiser&#39;s  131  or other businesses  141 , non-agents generally being anyone who is not a licensed insurance agent and whose main business is other than selling insurance); and general agent  160  may pay the non-agents (e.g., in step  224 ) for referrals as well. Method  300  may also include the steps of verifying the customer data (step  330 ) and/or adjusting claims (step  339 ) submitted by the customers (e.g.,  101  or  102 ). Verifying the customer data (step  330 ) may include, as examples, obtaining information from, or providing information to, various levels of government or other entities (e.g., verifying the license and registration of a vehicle, verifying the customer&#39;s driving record, appraising the value of property, checking claims history, and the like). In some embodiments, step  330  may be performed via the Internet, and in some situations may be automatically performed (e.g., by server  150 ). If the customer data is found to be inconsistent in a relevant way with what was known or believed at the time the policy was issued (e.g., in step  333 ), for example, the rates may be adjusted or the policy terminated or cancelled (step  336 ), in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. 
     Adjusting claims (step  228  or  339 ) may include providing a forum for policyholders (customers who have purchased insurance, e.g., customers  101  or  102 ) to input claims information (e.g., as prompted or as text) which may be provided to real claims adjusters who may further investigate or verify the claims information. Once the process is complete, a settlement offer or payment may be made, which may be via server  150 . Performing step  228  or  339  via server  150  may allow the policyholder to input information quickly and easily, and may save time for the real adjuster obtaining claims information and paying claims. In addition, claims information may be stored via database  152  for future use or reporting. 
     In many other respects, the methods  200  and  300  may be similar to the system  100  described above, and vice versa. 
     Modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is therefore not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is defined by the appended claims. In other words, other variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and it is the intent of the appended claims that such variations and modifications be covered. The particular values and configurations discussed above can be varied, are cited to illustrate particular embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is contemplated that the use of the present invention can involve components having different characteristics as long as the elements of at least one of the claims below, or the equivalents thereof, are included.