Abstract:
A new business model incorporating the advantages of endowing a remote field agent with sole discretion to legally bind an insurance carrier to a renewal insurance policy contract is provided. Policy data associated with eligible renewal policies is generated according to specified criteria on a periodic basis. The policy data relating to a given policy subscriber is transmitted over the Internet to a data memory of a remote computer, where a field agent updates the policy data, as necessary, with new information gained about the policy subscriber. The field agent legally binds an insurance carrier to a resulting renewal policy reflecting the evaluated policy data, where the binding step is accomplished by the field agent acting independently without prior underwriting analysis, rating, or authorization by the insurance carrier, and where the entire transaction is accomplished in not more than five minutes.

Description:
This application discloses subject matter disclosed in, and claims the benefit of the filing date of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/151,042, filed Aug. 27, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a computerized method and system for controlling renewal specifications and authorizing renewal policies for renewal of insurance coverage. More particularly, the invention relates to a unique business method incorporating the advantages of endowing a remote field agent with sole discretion to legally bind an insurance carrier to a renewal insurance policy contract. This invention incorporates the advantages of transmission of renewal policy data over a global network, such as, for example, the Internet. Data is transmitted between a central server and a remote terminal staffed by the field agent, using a process such that the field agent can independently, and without employing traditional underwriting procedures, control pricing flexibility, billing plan and timing of both quotation and policy issuance, and locally authorize an offer for proposed insurance coverage and associated premium, in a response timeframe that is unattainable using known, traditional industry methods. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Commercial activities, of which insurance underwriting is one example, have been shown to be enhanced by taking advantage of the speed and flexibility offered by electronically interconnecting various business operations. The Internet is a worldwide system of inter-connected computer networks. The Internet backbone enables computers of all kinds to share services and to communicate directly, as if they were part of one giant seamless global computing machine. The Internet is currently configured to join together large commercial communications services as well as thousands of university, government and corporate computer networks and other computers. Communications over the Internet is accomplished by defined communication protocols. 
     One particular aspect of the Internet which has gained widespread use is the World-Wide Web (“the Web”). The World-Wide Web is a subset of the Internet, which uses a specific protocol to permit communication between sites. Such communication between a computer at one site, and a computer at another site, may be interactive and is referred to as on-line. The Web is a collection of specially formatted Web documents, or pages, located on numerous computers around the world that are logically connected by the Internet. Web documents are commonly written in HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language). 
     The computers storing the Web pages are called servers and are configured to transfer a copy of a stored Web page to a user&#39;s computer, by way of a host server to which the user&#39;s computer is connected. For example, a commercial insurance company might establish a series of Web pages on a server, so that remote personnel can view copies of them on their local computers. The Web server can either be directly operated by the insurance company, or Web server services can be contracted by the insurance company from a supplier. Either way, an entity that provides a Web page is called a “content provider”, and typically, a content provider, such as an insurance company, provides a series of Web pages, each providing information and enabling the user to key-in questions about the information, and then receive answers on subsequent Web pages, or answer questions posed by a Web page and receive subsequent Web pages based on the supplied answers. Whether one Web page directs the user to one or more other Web pages, depends on how the Web page content provider has arranged the software underlying and supporting the Web page. 
     The HTML format is a scripting language which is used to generate the Web pages for different content providers. In this setting, a content provider is an individual or company that places information (content) on the Internet so that it can be accessed by field agents. As is well known in the art, the HTML format is a set of conventions for marking different portions of a document so that each portion appears in a distinctive format. For example, the HTML format identifies or “tags” portions of a document to identify different categories of text (e.g., the title, header, body text, etc.). 
     A user, such as an insurance field agent, accesses the Internet using a personal computer equipped with a conventional modem or equivalent network connection device. Commercially available Web interface software called a “browser” is installed in the personal computer so that when the field agent wishes to access the Internet, an attached modem is automatically instructed to connect over telephone lines with the server of a local Internet Web service provider. The Internet Web server typically is accessed through a local telephone number, to avoid long distance telephone charges, and acts as a “post office” through which the field agent&#39;s requests for Web pages are forwarded, and through which requested Web pages are received and then passed to the user&#39;s personal computer. The user can then access information at any address accessible over the Internet. Two well-known Web browsers, for example, are the Netscape Navigator developed by Netscape, Inc. and the Microsoft Internet Explorer developed by Microsoft Corporation. These interfaces are highly graphic in nature, emphasizing a blend of pictures and stylistics intended to enhance the user&#39;s rapid understanding of the Web page content. Usually, selectable options chosen with a “click” of a mouse are available, as well as input boxes in which text, such as answers to questions posed by the Web page, can be typed. 
     In order to view Web pages originating from a particular content provider, such as an insurance company Web server, the field agent instructs the Web interface software, i.e., the browser, resident in the field agent&#39;s personal computer, to locate the server on which the insurance company&#39;s Web pages are stored, and to initiate transfer of an HTML-formatted Web page over the Internet to the user&#39;s Web interface software, which reads the embedded tags in the document so that the document appears formatted in a specified manner. 
     In practice, the field agent simply enters a “domain name”, i.e., a name which is unique to the insurance company&#39;s Web server, and is relatively easy to remember, which the Web interface software converts to a unique Internet “address” of the insurance company&#39;s Web server. From that point on, the communication process occurs automatically between the field agent-connected local Web server and the insurance company-connected Web server, resulting in retrieval of the Web page from the insurance company&#39;s Web server and subsequent display on the field agent&#39;s personal computer. No connection between the field agent&#39;s computer and the insurance company&#39;s server is maintained after the Web page is provided to the user&#39;s computer. The Web page simply remains visible on the field agent&#39;s personal computer. At the direction of the field agent, typically with one key-stroke or mouse-click, the user&#39;s Web browser software re-initiates connections between the computers for each subsequent request for another Web page, or submission of the field agent&#39;s input. Importantly, the field agent can key-in input to a Web page, for example, in response to questions posed on the Web page received from an insurance company Web server, and upon keying in a “send” keystroke or mouse-click, that information will be transmitted back to the insurance company Web server, for subsequent processing. 
     The procedure traditionally employed by insurance companies for insurance policy renewal typically does not involve use of the Internet. Instead, a docketing reminder system is employed. At some predetermined period prior to the expiration data of a policy (usually 60-90-129 days), some type of pre-renewal letter is sent from the insurance carrier to their agency. This letter requests information including updated payrolls and other pertinent underwriting information that is needed by the insurance carrier in order to underwrite, i.e., accept or reject, and rate the renewal of the policy. The agency collects and completes this information by some set date, which usually is prior to the renewal data, and returns the information to the insurance carrier. The insurance carrier reviews the returned information, at which time it makes a decision to accept or reject coverage. If accepted, the carrier provides the agency with a quotation and/or renewal policy. If quoted prior to issuance, the agency must notify the carrier of its intent to accept, or bind, or lock in the quote. Once bound, i.e., upon acceptance of the quote, a policy is issued by the carrier. As is well known in the industry, this process may take weeks or months, depending on service levels provided by the agency and insurance carrier, and may extend well into the new policy period. 
     An alternative traditional insurance company procedure is one in which the insurance carrier establishes some type of automatic renewal of the policy, whereby an existing policy is put up against a preset underwriting and pricing template. If the policy fits, payrolls are automatically adjusted by a preset amount (5%, 10%, etc.) and a quotation and/or policy is automatically sent to the agent at a specific set time, i.e., 15/30 days prior to the effective date along with a predetermined billing plan. In this case, any necessary adjustment to payrolls or adjustments to pricing are negotiated between the carrier and agent, usually by endorsement to the renewal process. While this procedure is somewhat streamlined and speeds up the overall process of renewal, in comparison with the aforementioned procedure, nevertheless, considerable time transpires before the procedure, including the endorsement procedure, is complete. 
     Insurance underwriting has been conducted through the use of computerized automation in many phases of the insurance business, but until recently, such automation has included only limited use of the Internet. An example of such use is end-user advertisements, questionnaires and presentation of information. However, the improved flexibility and rapid response accompanying the use of Internet connectivity in commercial arenas makes possible new business paradigms heretofore not possible. 
     One such new business opportunity is in connection with the internal operations of an insurance company that processes high volumes of insurance policies of a type having profit margins that are exceptionally sensitive to operating costs, for example, renewal of workman&#39;s compensation insurance policies. It has been found that despite excellence in all pertinent business areas, and especially in cost management, profit margins obtainable after accounting for operating costs, are relatively small for this type of policy renewal business, as compared with other aspects of the insurance business. Future viability in such a business under current market trends has been shown to increasingly depend on cost containment in the face of processing high volumes of policies. 
     An example of this requirement is exemplified by the specific business of obtaining renewal of insurance policies, and in particular, renewal of workman&#39;s compensation policies. What is needed is a system and method for achieving cost savings that are substantially greater than attainable from achieving efficiencies through application of known computer and network techniques. Instead of such traditional data processing solutions alone, a combination of a new business paradigm coupled with computing and network techniques is needed to achieve viability in a margin-sensitive insurance business. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that eliminates a substantial number of steps in a traditional policy renewal process and enables shifting responsibility for authorizing acceptance of the terms and conditions of a proposed renewal policy and binding of the insurance carrier, from a central authority to field agents geographically remote from the carrier. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that enables a field agent geographically remote from a carrier to evaluate an insurance policy subscriber&#39;s policy attributes and independently determine on the spot that the subscriber attributes are such that the insurance carrier is legally bound to the terms and conditions of the policy under the authority of its field agent. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system that enables the field agent to control renewal specification, timing, quotation, pricing, billing and quotation/policy issuance. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that drives policy approval response time downward from industry norms of days and months to not more than five minutes. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system that achieves competitive policy pricing directly as a reflection of the overall reduced cost of operations due to the absence of routing every policy renewal decision through a traditional underwriting and rating process, before authorization to bind the insurance carrier is achieved. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a system that utilizes the Internet and associated Web pages as a “user-friendly” interactive communications vehicle between a central data source and disparate field agents. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a system that is applicable to a broad range of instances requiring remote, but rapid action effected by remote agents making authorization decisions without the necessity of first securing prior approval. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a policy renewal system is provided for generating policy data associated with eligible renewal policies on a periodic basis, transmitting the policy data relating to a given policy subscriber over a data network to the data memory of a remote computer, enabling a field agent operating the remote computer to update the policy data, as necessary, in light of any new information gained about the policy subscriber, and enabling the field agent to legally bind an insurance carrier to a resulting policy reflecting the evaluated policy data, where the binding step is accomplished independently by the field agent without prior underwriting analysis or authorization by the insurance carrier. 
     The present invention combines a unique business model incorporating the advantages of endowing a remote field agent with sole discretion to legally bind an insurance carrier to a renewal insurance policy contract, with the advantages of transmission of renewal policy data over the Internet between a central server and a remote terminal staffed by the field agent. This approach operates completely opposite to, and in stark contrast with, traditional insurance business models. Traditional insurance business models require that all policies, whether new policies or renewal policies, cycle through an underwriting and rating process employing staffing and resources, with attendant operating costs and often substantial delay. The cost and relatively sluggish response times of such traditional policy writing paradigms are the primary factors affecting the competitive policy renewal business. Therefore, in the case of the renewal policy business, substantial moderation of these factors is achieved by completely eliminating the underwriting process cycle associated with binding each, individual, renewal policy. This is accomplished first, by identifying policies eligible for renewal, second, by applying a business process in which each field agent independently, and without employing traditional underwriting resources, evaluates the identified renewal policy data and independently binds an insurance carrier to the terms and conditions of the policy. Third, the timing advantages obtained by eliminating underwriting procedures are capitalized on, and even further improved upon, through efficiencies gained through use of workload and information distribution over the Internet between a central policy data storage means and geographically separated field agents. 
     In order to achieve a reduction in renewal policy process timing to a few minutes, as compared to traditional methods requiring days, weeks and sometimes months, the field agent must be in electronic communication with the source of the renewal policy data, which typically is a data processing system managed by the insurance carrier, or an organization supporting the insurance carrier, so that policy renewal transactions can be readily initiated and completed in not more than five minutes or less, including interview of the policy subscriber, input of updated data, and output of a revised policy in a form suitable for legal binding. At no time in the insurance industry, has such a response time been routinely achieved. This procedure must be unaffected by variability in the training level of the field agent and substantial numbers of eligible policies simultaneously being renewed. 
     Implicit to the process of the present invention, is the shift of authorization responsibility away from a central authority, such as a “home office”, where resources possessing adequate levels of expertise and judgment review and determine approval of the terms of each individual policy in light of the policy subscriber&#39;s attributes, i.e., an underwriting and rating procedure, and toward the field agent. Without such risk-management resources in place, the insurance carrier is potentially subject to increased risk of being bound to a policy having less than satisfactory terms and conditions. In the aggregate, a carrier bound to numerous policies having terms and conditions adverse to the interests of the carrier potentially would be subject to substantial costs. On the other hand, where a carefully selected group of risk-assessment factors are included in underwriting the original, new policy, and are included for review and update by the agent, as part of the policy renewal procedure, the resulting exposure to increased risk is minimized. The fact that the renewal business relates to existing policy subscribers improves the odds, because an insurance-history has been developed by the carrier. The risk-assessment factors, optionally in the form of questions, can be included in an Internet Web page for inspection and update by the field agent. In addition, rapidity of response presents additional marketing benefits, as does competitive pricing reflecting the overall reduced cost of operations due to the absence of routing every policy renewal decision back through a home office approval process to achieve authorization to bind. 
     The method and system according to the present invention further includes an renewal policy eligibility generator, which applies a set of criteria to data corresponding to a group of policies, to determine a subset group of policies that are eligible for renewal. Identification of those policies eligible for renewal is then made available, for example, by being included in an Internet Web page, to respective field agents for further processing. 
     The policy renewal method according to the present invention is applicable to a broad range of applications requiring rapid action effected by remote agents making authorization decisions without first securing prior approval, and is not limited to insurance policies, renewal policies, or contracts. 
     The system and method of the present invention utilizes a network, such as the Internet, over which renewal policy data is transmitted in the form of Web pages. An eligible renewal policy generator is arranged to generate policy data corresponding to any renewal policy eligible for renewal within some desired time period. All such data is arranged by field agent and made available in the form of a Web page, one page per policy, for example, although other arrangements are envisioned. 
     The nature of the policy data is twofold. In the case of workman&#39;s compensation insurance coverage, the policy data includes information previously on file relating to the policy subscriber, such as number of employees and the insurance class of work to be performed. The policy data also includes a set of questions tied to the particular classification of work, wherein the questions provide a venue for updating the existing policy data. Any field agent, by operating commercially available Internet browser software on a personal computer connected to the Internet, can access Web pages associated with the agent, through use of a suitable security arrangement, such as a password. Optionally, other information important to the agent&#39;s work is also available in Web page form. 
     The field agent cycles through the Web pages associated with a given renewal policy, inputting updated or new information as necessary and transmitting each Web page back to the central policy data storage location. The submitted data is screened by the inventive system for input errors and completeness and general acceptability. During this procedure, the agent answers any necessary update-questions associated with the class of work for which insurance coverage is to be provided, until a Web page is received indicating that the renewal policy is in condition to be bound. At this point, the agent has the option of saving the data for future access and suspending further action to another time, and also has the option of printing the policy data, and optionally other information. In the alternative, the agent can input an indication on the Web page that the insurance carrier is to be legally bound to the terms and conditions of a renewal policy represented by the input policy data. Transmission of the Web page to the central policy data storage location binds the insurance carrier and will cause the system to respond with a Web page indicating that the carrier is so bound. A representation of the renewal policy is transmitted to the agent in the form of one or more separate Web pages, which can be printed. 
     The system according to the present invention is configured and arranged so that the total time required between initial receipt of the policy data and producing a printed copy of a bound policy is not more than five minutes or less. If the agent fails to follow the renewal update procedure, the system of the present invention automatically triggers a policy, based on preset timing, billing plan and underwriting defaults. 
     In the alternative, upon receipt of policy data, the field agent operates independently by completing the above-described procedures obtained from a locally stored program, in order to achieve a bound renewal policy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of the Insurance Policy Renewal Method and System, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified block diagram of the system of  FIG. 1 , showing the interconnection between computer and network components, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of graphic “buttons” arranged at the top or bottom of various Web pages according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example policy information search request Web page according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example policy renewal input Web page obtainable by selecting the “Renewal Quotes” button  312  according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example policy renewal input Web page including questions pertinent to the previously entered governing class code according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an example policy renewal response Web page including policy information relating to the policy subscriber data input via prior Renewal input screens according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example policy renewal input Web page including additional questions relating to the policy subscriber&#39;s attributes according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example of a bind renewal input Web page including pertinent data, associated premiums, and entry button for binding the insurance carrier to the terms and conditions of the policy, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an example of a confirmation Web page  380  according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a system  10  consistent with the present invention provides for the processing of insurance policy data over local area networks, dedicated data lines, cellular, personal communication systems (PCS), microwave, satellite networks, the Internet, through dial up access, satellite uplink or any other network using an open communications protocol, such as TCP/IP, or any other suitable form of data communications. Some of the computing elements of the system preferably connect to each other via a public switched telephone network. Subscriber attributes  310  and, eligibility questions  312 , described below, travel through these connections. Other corporate information, such as latest revision forms, business data, business news, personnel information, and the like, may also be communicated through these connections. 
     System  10  includes an insurance company Web server  12 , at least one field agent computer  14 , which preferably is a personal computer, and an insurance company computer  16 . Computer  16  can be one or more large transaction processor computers. In accordance with the invention, the system integrates the operation of the insurance company Web server  12 , the agent computers  14 , and the insurance company computer  16 , so that insurance policies eligible for renewal are identified and arranged to be automatically forwarded to the field agent for action. In the preferred embodiment, the insurance company Web server  12  manages a common connection via the Internet between insurance company information systems operations, which include insurance company computer  16 , and geographically remote field agent computers  14 . Field agent computers  14  may also be subscriber computers, where a subscriber is, or employs, the insured. The insurance company computer  16  may be replaced by, or operatively connect with, third party computers, which provide other functions such as claims processing and review of prior authorization requests. The insurance company computer  16  and the third party computer and the insurance company Web server  12  preferably are capable of communicating on, and are interconnected by, an insurance company local area network (LAN)  20  or other suitable data link. 
     Computers  12 ,  14 , and  16  are integrated for the performance of at least three main functions: (1) storage of policy information and identification of policies eligible for renewal; (2) organization of eligible renewal policy information by field agent, transmission of renewal policy information to each field agent and receipt of field agent input; and (3) enabling a field agent to independently process a renewal policy, evaluate subscriber input and approve a renewal policy for binding, effect contractual binding of the insurance company, and transmit information relative to a bound policy to the insurance company home office. The field agent communicates with the insurance company home office through Web screens made available on the field agent computer by Web browser software. These functions, described below, are depicted in  FIGS. 3-10 , respectively. 
     The field agent computers  14  preferably are WINDOWS-compliant personal computers operating WINDOWS 3.x, or later release software, capable of communicating on, and are interconnected by, the Internet  22  or dial up access over a public switched telephone network. Web browser software  24  installed on the field agent computer  14  enables the field agent to easily connect with the Internet by way of a local Internet Web service provider, which runs software on a local Internet service provider Web server  18 , arranged to pass requests for Web pages from the field agent over the Internet to the insurance company Web server  12 , and to receive and then convey requested Web pages to the Web browser software  24  running on the agent&#39;s computer  14 . The field agent uses a computer keyboard and computer mouse as an input device  26  to request Web pages, and to respond to their content. At the same time, other general public users  15  are also connected to the Internet service provider Web server, which simultaneously handles transactions initiated by them to other content providers unrelated to the insurance company. Each user is unaware of the activity of any other user. The insurance company or third party processor computers may alternatively be connected to the insurance company Web server  12  either by the Internet or a dial-up access arrangement. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , insurance company Web server  12  is preferably capable of high volume processing, performing a significant number of mathematical calculations in processing communications and database searches. Insurance company Web server  12  may be a conventional personal computer or a computer workstation with sufficient memory and processing capability. The operating system of the insurance company Web server  12  may be DOS, WINDOWS 3.x, or later release, OS/2, AIX, or any other known and available operating system. Internet interface  210  supports a number of Internet access tools including, for example, an HTTP-compliant Web browser. The present invention is designed to operate within any of these known or developing Web browsers. Internet interface  210  may also support other Internet services including simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) or e-mail, file transfer protocol (FTP), network news transfer protocol (NNTP) or “Usenet”, and remote terminal access (Telnet). 
     Insurance company Web server  12  operates as a primary Web server, which operably includes server software  200  for both receiving and transmitting communications via Internet interface  210  and LAN interface  212 . Insurance company Web server  12  preferably includes a Web server database  214 , such as an Access, SQL, or other open database-compliant database, although any suitable database will suffice. Web server database  214  is operatively connected to Internet interface  210  and LAN interface  212 , as well as to other processes, including a translator  216 , a field agent activity processor  218  connected to a policy renewal criteria storage  219 , a Web server database/subscriber database update processor  220 , and optionally, a push-technology process  222 . All processes within insurance company Web server  12  are operatively connected to a central processing unit  224 , system utilities  225 , temporary and permanent storage  226 , and input/output devices  227  commonly found in commercially available servers, and in accordance with known practices. 
     Insurance company computer  16  can be any high volume, transaction processing computer in the present or future marketplace. Such computers are common to insurance company operations, and may be mainframe computers, or more typically a midrange computer such as IBM&#39;s AS/400. Primary databases used in such systems typically are in a predetermined format, such as DB2, VSAM, ISAM, and are adaptable to any proprietary database by customizing a translator (not shown), which provides an interface between any proprietary database and the server&#39;s database. 
     Insurance company computer  16  includes a subscriber policy information system  228 , which includes an eligible renewal policy extractor process  230  operatively connected to a subscriber database  232  and to a LAN interface  234 . Subscriber database  232  includes data associated with a subscriber&#39;s current policy for a group of subscribers. Optionally, the insurance company includes multiple insurance providers for the group of policy subscribers. A subgroup of policy subscribers is identified as being associated with a particular field agent, although other groupings are possible. 
     In operation, the system of the present invention, on a monthly basis, for example, is arranged so that the eligible renewal policy extractor  230  generates a list of insurance policies that are eligible for renewal from the subscriber database  232 . The eligible renewal policy extractor  230  applies a set of criteria arranged to determine which of a larger group of policies are eligible for renewal. Extractor  230  can be an expert system, for example, a rule-based system, and rules used by the expert system preferably are subject to update and modification. Data representing eligible renewal policies is transferred via LAN interface  234  from the insurance computer  16 , over LAN  20 , through LAN interface  212  of insurance company Web server  12 , to a Web server database/subscriber database update processor  220 . Update processor  220  updates the contents of Web server database  214 , based on data generated by the eligible renewal policy extractor  230 , and in a separate, reverse operation, updates the subscriber database  232 , based on data generated by the field agent activity processor  218 . 
     Field agent activity processor  218  manages data flow between Web server database  214  and each field agent. In the outbound direction, preferably field agent activity processor  218  accumulates all eligible renewal policy data associated with each field agent and, upon demand by a given field agent, populates a Web page with eligible renewal policy data for which the requesting agent is responsible. Alternatively, field agent activity processor  218  populates, for all field agents, an individual Web page with all eligible renewal policy data associated with a given field agent, stores all Web pages, and makes each Web page available for transmission over the Internet to the corresponding field Agent, upon demand. In another embodiment, upon demand by a field agent, processor  218  accumulates the requisite eligible renewal policy data associated with that field agent, and populates a Web page on the fly. In still another alternative embodiment, upon demand by a field agent, all aforementioned processes are initiated on the fly, thereby obtaining a direct extraction from the subscriber database  232 . Preferably, processor  218  formats the resulting Web page to be interpreted by an HTTP-compliant Web browser, or any comparable format appropriate for current Internet communications technology. 
     Optionally, a push technology transmitter  222  is arranged to communicate alternatively with companion push technology receiver software (not shown), or Web browser software, resident in each field agent&#39;s computer. Push technology transmitter  222 , using any of the aforementioned processes, or similar processes, generates Web pages for each field agent and, using known push technology processes, automatically broadcasts the data to the field agent&#39;s computer without further human intervention, i.e., “pushes”, the generated pages via Internet interface  210 , over the Internet  22  to the field agent&#39;s computer  14 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of graphic “buttons” arranged at the top or bottom of various screens, which preferably are Web pages. Other buttons are envisioned, and the exemplary embodiment is shown for descriptive purposes. The field agent mouse-clicks button  310  to initiate a “New Quote” process, which retrieves a Web page formatted for entry of policy data for a new policy subscriber. Button  311 , “Edit New Quotes” returns to a “New Quote” screen if input has been suspended or interrupted. Button  312  is used to initiate a “Renewal Quotes” process, which retrieves a Web page formatted for entry of renewal policy data for an existing policy subscriber. Buttons  313 , “Change Password”,  314 , “Feedback”, and  315 , “Exit”, enable the field agent to perform the indicated tasks. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example policy information search request Web page  320 . The field agent enters one or more of policy number, account name, or other search options, in order to obtain desired policy information. A mouse-click on either button  322 , “Submit”, or button  324 , “Exit”, enables the agent to submit the Web page, as edited, or alternatively, to cancel the input, as well as the entire Web page. The system according to the present invention is arranged to transmit a replacement screen, depending on system parameters. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example policy renewal input Web page  330 , which is obtainable by selecting the “Renewal Quotes” button  312 . The policy renewal Web page includes one or more insurance class codes relevant to the policy subscriber, as well as, for example, payroll dollars. Drop-down windows further detailing class description, for example, are provided. Buttons  332 , “Update Class Description” and  334 , “Proceed” respectively, enable the field agent to update information on the Web page or proceed to the next Web page. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example policy renewal input Web page  340  including questions pertinent to the previously entered governing class code. Button  342 , “Check Eligibility” enables the field agent to submit the information entered on the Web page. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an example Renewal response Web page  350 , including policy information relating to the policy subscriber data input via prior Renewal input Web pages. A “Next” button  352  enables the field agent to proceed to the next Web page. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example Renewal input Web page  360 , which includes questions originally answered by the policy subscriber at the time the subscriber originally applied for the policy. Web page  360  includes provision for updating answers to the questions. Button  362 , “Do Not Accept” and button  364 , “Accept” enable the field agent to stop the process, or proceed to the next step, respectively. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an example of a final Renewal input Web page  370 , which includes pertinent data and associated premiums. A “Print Quick Quote” button  372  is provided so that the agent is able to obtain a paper copy of the policy data, as amended. A “Bind” button  274  is also provided, with which the field agent clicks to legally bind the insurance carrier to the terms and conditions of the policy. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an example of a Confirmation Web page  380 , the receipt of which is the final step of the renewal policy procedure. Web page  380  represents the bound renewal policy, including all pertinent policy subscriber&#39;s attributes, as well as corresponding premium data. The agent is able to print a copy of the Confirmation Web page  380  through the normal personal computer print functions.