JP2001216350A - Method for collecting charge for continuous service and method for providing charge paying means - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charge collecting method and a charge paying means providing method which enables service to begin to be provided early while guaranteeing convenience for three parties, i.e., a service provider, a service receiver, and a card company. SOLUTION: This is the charge collecting method for collecting the charge for continuous service by a computer system, and has a credit card application stage where a picture urging a customer to apply to a credit card company and apply for continuous service is displayed to urge entry into the picture when the customer who applies for the reception of the continuous service desires to pay service charge with a credit card by applying for the reception of the service and applying for the credit card newly, a charge storage code number acquisition stage where a specific charge storage code number is obtained when an application is made at the credit card application stage, and a continuous service provision start stage where the service that the customer has applied for begins to be provided after it is confirmed that the charge storage code number is obtained at the charge storage code number acquisition stage.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a continuous service using a computer system, and more particularly to a method for collecting charges such as an Internet provider service and Internet shopping and a method for providing a charge settlement means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a method in which a customer who wants to receive a paid service on the Internet, for example, an Internet provider connection service or an Internet shopping service, signs up online.

[0003]

At this time, it is assumed that the customer already has a credit card. If you have a credit card, you can immediately use the service on the Internet by entering the number, but otherwise you will not normally be able to use it immediately.

[0004] If a consumer (potential customer) who is connected in the hope of being able to immediately receive services on the Internet and does not yet have a credit card, and has to wait a few weeks before making a credit card, the demand is high. It is inconvenient for the person. In some cases, this is an important problem that can be a hindrance to the spread of the Internet.

[0005] To solve this problem, the inventor of the present invention considered that it would be desirable to provide an efficient network on the Internet between a continuous service provider, including an Internet service provider, and a credit card company. . And, while protecting the financial interests of the consumers, service providers, credit card companies, and the three parties, it also effectively protects the information that should be kept secret from the three parties, and collects fees in consideration of transaction security. Finally, I came up with the idea of providing a method and a method of providing fee settlement means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to propose a charge collection method and a charge settlement means providing a service provider, a service receiver, and a card company that can start service provision early while satisfying the interests of the three parties. It is in.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems,
The continuous service fee collection method according to the present invention is a fee collection method for collecting a continuous service fee by a computer system, wherein a customer applying for the continuous service receives a new credit together with the application for the service. If you apply for a card at the same time and want to settle the service fee with the credit card, display a screen that prompts the customer to apply for a credit card company and to receive continuous service. Then, if there is an application at the application stage of receiving a credit card and a continuous service that prompts entry on the screen, and at the application stage of receiving the credit card and the continuous service, a predetermined fee is stored as a response to the application. Automatically assigning code numbers and registering charge storage code numbers in the service provider's database The method comprising, after confirming that the registration has been made, in which and a Continuous Service start initiating a Service Provider who applied the above customer.

[0008] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a charge settlement means providing method, wherein a charge settlement means provider gives a right to a new customer a charge storage code in advance to a continuous service provider. Granting authorization step;
In the charge collection code number issuance step, the charge collection step of collecting the charge for the continuous service provision of the service provider started after the charge storage code number is issued in the charge collection code number issue step, and the result of the credit card application examination, A credit card payment switching step of switching the collection operation to credit card payment when a credit card is issued.

It is preferable that confidential information is managed by separately managing customer information to be acquired by the continuous service provider and customer information to be acquired by the credit card company.

[0010] Further, in order to ensure the security of the transaction, there is provided a step in which the customer accesses a computer on the continuous service provider side and a step in which the customer accesses the computer on the credit company side. It is possible to confirm the identity of the customer by acquiring data relating to the route and collating the data.

[0011] Further, preferably, from the time when the customer starts connection to the computer of the continuous service provider and starts the application, the continuous service is provided from the customer until the continuous service provider starts providing the service. This is done while keeping the computer connected to the vendor.

[0012] The continuous service may be an Internet provider service or an Internet shopping service.

[0013] It is also possible for the charge settlement means provider to provide the continuous service provider without giving the authority to assign the charge storage code number to the new customer in advance, and to perform the assignment procedure by communication between the two computers each time. It is.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing embodiments of the present invention, the positioning of the present invention will be described. The continuous service is a service that is continuously provided, such as an Internet connection service, an Internet shopping service, and a continuous information providing service, and is a service that must be charged monthly (or yearly). Ongoing service providers are entities that provide those services. The consumer is a general public who knows the contents of the service provided through the Internet or the like, applies for the purpose of receiving the service in order to receive the service provided, and intends to receive the service provided. This consumer (service recipient) is a potential customer for a continuous service provider. Simply applying for a service does not start the continuous service, but requires the consent of the service provider. Therefore, at the stage of applying for the provision of services, although not strictly speaking, it is not yet a customer, in the specification of the present application, unless there is a particular fear of confusion,
Even in that case, the word customer may be used. The term "payment means" means a means for completing payment such as shopping, instead of paying cash, regardless of the name, such as credit, loan, lease, debit card, electronic money, and electronic wallet. Say. The term "payment means provider" refers to a person who performs as a business the provision of a rate settlement means such as a credit card company or a credit sales company. The continuous service fee collection method according to the present invention is characterized in that a continuous service provider having a server on the Internet collects a fee from a customer on the Internet, and a fee settlement means provider also having a server on the Internet. It is a method that should be implemented in relation to Further, the method for providing fee settlement means of the present invention is a method to be implemented when the fee settlement means provider providing the fee settlement means to the continuous service provider setstle the fee of the customer on the Internet. is there.

1: Overall Configuration Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a server on the side of a continuous service provider, which is connected to the Internet NET via a route control device and a telephone line (or a dedicated line). Reference numeral 20 denotes a server on the side of the fee payment means provider, which is connected to the Internet NET via a route control device and a telephone line (or a dedicated line). Code 10
Are various terminal computers used by general consumers (applicants for continuous service provision, potential customers, customers), and are connected to the Internet NET in the same manner as the servers 10 and 20. Here, the terminals 101, 10
.. Have input units such as a keyboard and a mouse together with display units such as a CRT and an LCD.

1-1: Server Configuration Next, a detailed configuration of the servers 10 and 20 will be described.
The servers 10 and 20 can be configured by a general web server. Control means such as a CPU controls each unit,
It performs data transfer, various calculations, temporary storage of data, and the like. Further, it has input control means, output control means, storage means and the like.

The storage means includes a database for storing the main program, as well as service information, customer information, charge information, payment means information, charge collection method and the like in association with each other.

2: Description of Operation Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Here, the terminals 101, 102,... Are connected to the server 10 or the server 20 to perform communication, and all function as terminals of general consumers. For convenience of explanation, the servers 10, 2
The following description is based on the assumption that the terminal 101 is connected to the terminal 0. When the terminal 101 is connected to the server 10, the server 1
The control unit 0 detects this connection via the input control unit and controls the terminal 101 according to the main program (by changing the screen display of the terminal 101, it prompts the operator who operates the terminal to input. 2) and 6)
5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main program of the server 10 and the server 20. 2 and 6, the operation shown on the left half side shows the operation of the server 10, and the operation shown on the right half side shows the operation of the server 20. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server 10.

2-1: Online Sign-Up Procedure FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server on the continuous service provider side when the general customer applies for the continuous service in the embodiment of the present invention. Here, as a continuous service provider, an Internet service provider (a company whose main business is to provide general consumers with access points to access the Internet through telephone lines to give them the opportunity to use the Internet)
Take for example. In general, Internet service providers require C to provide online sign-up.
Distribute a D-ROM (dedicated CD-ROM) to consumers or, in cooperation with a computer maker, sign up online with an Internet service provider by clicking an icon on a newly purchased computer screen. Measures (icons built into the PC). In those cases, the consumer can sign up online using a predetermined ID and password. Also, if a consumer who is already connected to the Internet wants to use the second provider, it is possible to access the online sign-up screen as a guest. FIG.
Steps 700 to 714 in FIG. 7 show the operation of the server when the general consumer accesses the server of the service provider on the Internet in this way.

2-1-1: Welcome Screen FIG. 3 is a hard copy showing the "Welcome to online sign-up" screen of the Internet service provider. This screen shows that a credit card is required to pay the service provider's monthly fee. If you use the "Quick Provider Service", you can immediately apply for a new credit card even if you do not currently have a credit card. Is displayed to indicate that payment by the card is possible. Click on the underlined part (or icon, button, etc.) written "Quick Provider Service" (YE at step 702)
S), the process proceeds to step 704 in FIG. 7, and an application screen is displayed. If you do not click anything on the welcome screen of FIG. 3, you will remain on that screen. Step 7 in FIG.
The reason why "Quick Net Service" is written in 02 is that the service provider is conscious of not only service providers but also general service providers. Even if you already have a credit card, you can select a quick provider service (quick net service) if you sign up for a new credit card and want to pay the provider a monthly fee with a new card. It is possible.

2-1-2: Application Screen In the application screen of step 704 in FIG. 7, a request for consent to various agreements is requested from a consumer (applicant for receiving services). FIG. 4 shows the display contents. Provider terms, card enrollment terms, credit information agencies, and how to handle personal information should be described in detail on a separate screen, and after scrolling through those screens to the end and confirming them, you should be able to press the consent button Is desirable. In step 706, it is determined whether or not to agree. If the customer who signs up online (service receiving applicant) agrees with all, input screen st
It moves to ep708. Otherwise, go back (step
(NO at 706).

2-1-3: Input Screen FIG. 5 is a hard copy showing an outline of display contents of the input screen. The information to be entered is common items (information passed in common to the continuous service provider and the fee settlement means provider)
And the card enrollment item (information passed only to the fee settlement means provider and unnecessary for the continuous service provider), and the provider contract item (passed only to the continuous service provider, (Unnecessary information). Specific examples of the common item include an address, a name, and the like.
Specific examples of card enrollment items include the type of application card (whether you are affiliated with an international card company), the presence or absence of a family card application, personal information such as residence, family composition, work place, annual income, payment account information, Journal subscription designation. Examples of the provider contract-specific item include setting of an e-mail address, registration of an ID and a password, and the like. In order to reduce the input burden, selection method (display some options and enable input only by clicking)
It is desirable to use many. For example, inputting the name of the prefecture in the address, selecting the number of dependents and the annual income, and the like. Further, it is desirable to provide a follow-up means for an input error, such as displaying a confirmation screen after the input so that the input can be easily corrected.

2-1-4: Data transfer Although not shown in FIG. 5, after the user inputs, after confirming on the confirmation screen, pressing the send button, all necessary items are entered. Is determined in step 710. If there is a leak, return to the input screen and prompt for input (or replenishment) again. If there is no leakage, the process proceeds to the automatic numbering step in step 712.

2-1-5: Automatic Numbering From step 712 to step 714, the server 10 of the continuous service provider that automatically numbers the charge storage code.
The operation of FIG. In step 712, step7
The charge storage code is automatically numbered immediately according to the data input in step 10 and registered in the database of the continuous service provider. This numbering should be done by the charge settlement means provider, but the service to which the code granting authority has been granted based on the contract between the charge settlement means provider and the continuous service provider made in advance. An example is shown in which the provider automatically performs this.

2-1-6: Start of Continuous Service Provision The server of the continuous service provider obtains the collection agency number in step 714 and shifts to a series of processes for service start. As a result, the consumer who has completed the online sign-up procedure (service application applicant) can receive the desired continuous service without disconnecting from the first access (for example, within about 5 to 10 minutes). Can start.

2-2: After sign-up procedure When the continuous service provider obtains new customer information, the information is then sent to the credit card company online (for example, via the Internet) at any stage. . The credit card company (charge payment means provider) processes the received customer information (card applicant information), prints it out, mails it to the applicant, stamps it and returns it. This is because a seal is required for debiting a bank account. At the same time, the normal examination required for card issuance will proceed. If there is a charge between the customer and the continuous service provider before the card issuance, the credit card company will undertake the collection service. The collection agency number (charge storage code number) issued in the online sign-up procedure is for this purpose. In the case of credit card settlement, the credit of the continuous service provider is transferred to the credit card company, and the credit card company charges the customer. In the case of collection, the credit card company simply collects on behalf of the continuous service provider without transferring the receivables. Therefore, if money cannot be collected, only that fact is reported. The continuous service provider that has been notified that collection was not able to be collected will need to take measures such as mailing a transfer form to the customer. In order to avoid such annoyance, it is desirable that the continuous service provider set the first few months as a free trial period so that no fee is charged.

2-2-1: When a credit card can be issued If a credit card can be issued as a result of the examination, a credit card company (a provider of fee settlement means)
Issues a credit card to the customer and notifies the continuous service provider of the number.

2-2-2: When Credit Card Is Not Issued If the result of the examination shows that the customer does not have sufficient credit to issue a credit card, the credit card company will act as a payment collection agency that has already issued the credit card. By the number, continue the collection service. In order to provide a collection service,
The condition is that the customer has completed the procedure for debiting the bank (the document mailed to the customer is stamped, returned and processed with the bank).

2-2-3: Case where payment collection cannot be performed If the required documents have not yet been returned from the customer even though it is time to perform the collection collection, and the bank cannot be debited, a credit card is required. The company will report this to the continuous service provider. Then, the continuous service provider stops the service. Termination of provider contract.

[0030]

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a case where a charge storage code number is obtained by communicating with a server of a charge settlement means provider (credit card company) every time a new customer application is made on the Internet. In FIG. 2, st
Steps ep202 to step 206 are flowcharts in the server (the server 20 in FIG. 1) on the side of the fee settlement means provider. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, since the fee settlement means provider has previously given the code number assignment authority to the service provider, the procedure up to the start of the service providing service is completed only by the server on the service provider side. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, both servers are involved in communication at steps 112, 114, 202, and 204, and code numbers are assigned.
The difference is that they are acquired. Strictly speaking, from the viewpoint of the general consumer of the Internet, the web server of the service provider or the charge settlement means provider is provided directly as a machine different from the server that manages the customer database, and is distributed separately. Since the processing is usually performed, the machine accessed by the customer is generally different from the numbering machine. Even so, it is within the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server in the embodiment in which the input of the credit card application is executed on the server on the side of the fee settlement means provider. The difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that the operation of inputting customer information is performed by the credit card company. The rest is the same. In ensuring that the personal information is managed only by the card company, the customer can be reassured.

Further, another embodiment is possible in which the information input to the card company is executed after jumping to the server to the card company, and the information input to the provider is executed after jumping to the server to the provider. It is.

It is also possible to display the data transfer procedure between the two servers in such a manner that the customer actively participates in the procedure. In other words, at the time of data transfer, the server of the other party is also shown to fly on the display device of the customer, shows a display screen indicating that the data is received, and returns to the original state.
Thereby, a sense of security can be given to the customer.

In general, in a server on the Internet, the IP address of the PC being accessed, the telephone number for dial-up (when notifying but not notifying), and the type of machine being used (Windows) Or
Information such as Mac version, OS version, browser type (explorer or netscape), browser version, etc. can be obtained. By knowing this, it is possible to verify the identity of the customer accessing the server of the continuous service provider and the customer accessing the server of the fee payment means provider. Thereby, the security of the transaction can be enhanced.

It is needless to say that the type of business for continuous service provision in the present application is not limited to those described in the present embodiment and examples. For example, configurations that apply to industries such as English language schools on the Internet, examination schools, news provision, information clipping services, event information provision services, discount information provision services, music and image Internet distribution services, electronic publishing services, etc. It does not matter.
Because they provide services on a continuous basis and charge monthly.

Further, it is necessary to obtain a service when it is desired to receive the service in a timely manner, and it is considered that the higher the necessity of immediate settlement, the higher the utility of the present invention. Also, in the present specification and the drawings, the names of the quick provider service and the quick net service are used, but it is needless to say that these are tentative names and are not limited to these service names.

In the above-described embodiment, the servers 10 and 20 and the terminals 101, 102,... Are connected via the Internet NET. Is not asked. Further, in the embodiment, the terminals connected to the servers 10 and 20 are the terminals 101 and 102, but other terminals may be used.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a charge collection method and a charge settlement means providing method that enable early start of service provision while satisfying the interests of the service provider, the service receiver, and the card company.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of a server on a service provider side and a server on a fee settlement means provider side in one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a hard copy showing display contents of a “welcome screen” in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a hard copy showing display contents of an “agreement screen” in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a hard copy showing display contents of an “input screen” in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the server in the embodiment in which the input of the credit card application is executed on the server on the side of the fee settlement means provider.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server on the continuous service provider side when the general consumer applies for the continuous service in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 20 server 101, 102, 103, 104 terminal

Claims (24)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A fee collection method for collecting a fee for a continuous service by a computer system, wherein a customer who applies for the continuous service receives a request for receiving the service and also applies for a new fee settlement means. If the customer wishes to settle the service charge by the charge settlement means, display a screen that prompts the customer to apply to the charge settlement means provider and to the service provider, and fill out the screen. A charge settlement means and a continuous service supply and demand application stage which prompts the user, and when a request is made in the charge settlement means and the continuous service supply and supply application stage, a predetermined charge storage code number is automatically obtained as a response to the application, and Together with the application data to the fee settlement means provider and the service provider,
A database registration step of registering in the database, and a continuous service provision for starting the provision of the service requested by the customer after confirming that the registration of the charge storage code number and the continuous service application data has been registered in the database. A method for collecting fees for continuous services, comprising a starting step. 2. A fee payment means providing method for providing continuous service fee settlement means by a computer system, wherein a customer who applies for continuous service receives a request for receiving the service and a new fee settlement means is provided. In the case where an application is made and the settlement of the service charge is desired by the charge settlement means, the authority to automatically assign a predetermined charge storage code number in response to the application of the charge settlement means is provided by the continuous service. A charge storage code granting authority granting step which has been previously given to the provider of the service, a customer information receiving step of receiving a notice that the charge storage code number has been provided from the service provider and receiving necessary customer information, A collection agency stage in which the service provider's continuous service provision fee started after the provider assigns the fee storage code number, and A charge settlement means switching step of, when a charge settlement contract is concluded as a result of the examination of the application for the charge settlement means, to switch the collection agent to settlement by the charge settlement means. Means provision method. 3. The method for collecting fees for continuous services according to claim 1, wherein the customer information to be obtained by the continuous service provider and the customer information to be obtained by the fee settlement means provider are separated. A method of collecting fees for continuous services, characterized in that confidential information is managed by managing the information. 4. The method for providing fee settlement means for continuous services according to claim 2, wherein said customer information to be acquired by said continuous service provider and customer information to be acquired by said fee settlement means provider. A method for providing fee settlement means for continuous services, wherein confidential information is managed by dividing and managing the information. 5. The continuous service fee collecting method according to claim 1, wherein the customer accesses a computer of the continuous service provider, and the customer accesses a computer of the fee settlement means provider. And collecting data on an access route or an access means in each of the steps, and checking the data to confirm the identity of the customer. 6. A method of providing a continuous service charge settlement means according to claim 2, wherein the customer accesses a computer of the continuous service provider, and wherein the customer accesses the computer of the charge settlement means. A method of providing fee settlement means for a continuous service, comprising the steps of: obtaining data relating to an access route in each step and checking the data to confirm the identity of the customer. 7. The continuous service fee collection method according to claim 1, wherein the continuous service provider provides the service after the customer starts connecting to the computer of the continuous service provider and starts the application. A continuous service charge collection method, which is performed while the customer continues to be connected to the computer of the continuous service provider until the start of the service. 8. The continuous service fee settlement means providing method according to claim 2, wherein the customer starts connection to the computer of the continuous service provider and starts applying for the service. A method for collecting fees for a continuous service, which is performed while the customer continues to connect to the computer of the continuous service provider until the service is started. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuous service is an Internet service provider. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuous service is an Internet service provider. 10. The method of providing a continuous service toll settlement means according to claim 2, wherein said continuous service is an Internet provider service. 11. The continuous service fee collecting method according to claim 1, wherein the continuous service is a shopping service on the Internet. 12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the continuous service is a shopping service on the Internet. 12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the continuous service is a shopping service on the Internet. 13. A fee collecting method for collecting a fee for a continuous service by a computer system, wherein a customer applying for the continuous service receives a request for receiving the service and a new fee settlement means. When the settlement of the service charge is desired by the charge settlement means, a screen for prompting the customer to apply for the charge settlement means provider is displayed, and the charge settlement means application step for prompting the entry on the screen. A charge settlement means application notification step for automatically notifying the computer of the charge settlement means provider side of the application in the charge settlement means application step, and a charge in the charge settlement means application notification step. Fee for receiving a predetermined fee storage code number issued by the fee payment means provider in response to notifying the payment means provider A storage code number receiving step, and a continuous service provision starting step of starting providing the service requested by the customer after confirming that the charge storage code number has been received in the charge storage code number receiving step. A method of collecting fees for continuous services. 14. A method for providing fee settlement means for providing continuous service fee settlement means by a computer system, wherein a customer who applies for continuous service receives a new fee settlement means together with an application for receiving the service. If you apply for the service and want to settle the service fee, the service provider will notify you to that effect and transmit the necessary information to the service provider as a response to the request. A charge storage code number issuance step in which the settlement means provider issues a predetermined charge storage code number, and the continuous service of the service provider started after the charge storage code number is issued in the charge storage code number issuance step. A collection agency stage in which the provided fee is collected, and a fee settlement contract is established as a result of examination of the application by the fee settlement means. , The charge settlement means providing method Continuous Service, characterized in that it comprises a charge settlement unit switching step for switching the collection agency to settlement by 該料 gold payment means. 15. The continuous service fee collection method according to claim 13, wherein the customer information to be obtained by the continuous service provider and the customer information to be obtained by the fee settlement means provider are separated. A method of collecting fees for continuous services, characterized in that confidential information is managed by managing the information. 16. The method for providing a continuous service fee settlement means according to claim 14, wherein the customer information to be acquired by the continuous service provider and the customer information to be acquired by the fee settlement means provider. A method for providing fee settlement means for continuous services, wherein confidential information is managed by dividing and managing the information. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the customer accesses a computer of the continuous service provider, and the customer accesses a computer of the charge settlement means provider. And collecting data on an access route or an access means in each of the steps, and checking the data to confirm the identity of the customer. 18. The method for providing a continuous service fee settlement means according to claim 14, wherein the customer accesses a computer of the continuous service provider side, and wherein the customer accesses the computer of the continuous service provider side. A method of providing fee settlement means for a continuous service, comprising the steps of: obtaining data relating to an access route in each step and checking the data to confirm the identity of the customer. 19. The continuous service fee collection method according to claim 13, wherein the continuous service provider provides the service after the customer starts connecting to the computer of the continuous service provider and starts the application. A continuous service charge collection method, which is performed while the customer continues to be connected to the computer of the continuous service provider until the start of the service. 20. The method for providing a continuous service fee settlement means according to claim 14, wherein the continuous service provider is connected to a computer of the continuous service provider and starts to apply for the service. A method for collecting fees for a continuous service, which is performed while the customer continues to connect to the computer of the continuous service provider until the service is started. 21. The continuous service fee collecting method according to claim 13, wherein the continuous service is an Internet provider service. 22. The method according to claim 14, wherein said continuous service is an Internet service provider. 23. The continuous service fee collecting method according to claim 13, wherein the continuous service is a shopping service on the Internet. 24. The method according to claim 14, wherein the continuous service is a shopping service on the Internet.