JP2002183452A - Network service system for insurance policy holder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network service system for an insurance policy holder capable of promoting insurance service using the Internet and offering great merit for both of a customer (the insurance policy holder) and an insurance company. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a provider processor capable of controlling a using rate, an insurance company processor performing insurance service processes by means of a Web page for handling an insurance contract, and a policy holder information processing terminal using the provider processor as an initial access point, carrying Internet connection software offered from the insurance company side to be installed, and processing information about the insurance policy holder. The provider processor is provided with a discount service user setting means. When registration of a provider member is demanded from the policy holder information processing terminal by using the Internet connection software, the provider processor cooperates with the insurance company processor to register the demanding policy holder as a provider member of a provider using rate discounted below a basic rate.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a net service system for policyholders for non-life insurance and life insurance subscribers, and more particularly, to a provider usage fee and a communication fee according to the insurance policy subscription status. The setting processing has a feature.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present invention aims at improving operational efficiency and customer service such as non-life insurance such as car insurance and fire insurance, and life insurance.

[0003] Today, customers (contractors) can apply for insurance participation and perform trial calculation of insurance premiums, etc., from the personal computer owned by the customer using the Internet. In this case, the customer accesses a web page of an insurance company or an agency through a provider server (provided as a provider member) to which the customer has an Internet connection contract (provided as a provider member), and obtains the insurance contract. Perform procedures for joining.

[0004]

However, even a customer who has a personal computer and has an insurance contract, who has not made an Internet connection contract with a provider, cannot apply for insurance subscription using the Internet.

[0005] Further, from the viewpoint of a customer (provider member) who has made an Internet connection contract with a provider, he or she is performing operations necessary for joining on behalf of a contract handler or a sales employee related to an insurance company. Nevertheless, there is also a complaint of being charged when connecting to the Internet. Some insurance companies reduce insurance premiums when the cost of insurance is reduced by applying for insurance through the Internet. But,
Depending on the Internet connection fee, the benefits of the reduction will be halved. If the customer of the insurance contract has the same Internet connection provider as the insurance company that provides the insurance contract Web page, it may be possible to adjust the charging when connecting to the Internet. However, in situations where there are a large number of providers, such as today, such adjustments in billing are difficult.

[0006] As described above, despite the fact that a policy handler or a sales employee performs procedures such as joining an insurance contract, the customer has little financial merit and is dissatisfied.

[0007] Further, from the viewpoint of the insurance company, from the processing such as enrollment of an insurance contract by a contract handler or a sales employee,
Even if it is intended to shift to processing such as enrollment of insurance contracts by customers using the Internet, if the number of customers who actually use the Internet is small, the same number of contract handlers and sales employees as before, It requires a large amount of forms required for the enrollment procedure, and the merit of constructing a system using the Internet is small.

Therefore, there is a demand for a network service system for insurance policyholders, which can increase the number of customers who subscribe to an insurance contract using the Internet and which has great advantages for both customers and insurance companies.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the insurance contractor net service system according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a Web page for processing an insurance contract of an insurance company with which a provider is affiliated. A provider processing device, an insurance company processing device that performs insurance business processing at the insurance company, and an internet connection software provided by the insurance company side, with the provider processing device initially accessed, A provider information processing terminal associated with a policyholder of an insurance contract, wherein the provider processing device is configured to provide a provider member registration request using the Internet connection software from the policyholder information processing terminal; In cooperation with the processing equipment, the basic provider usage fee to the policy holder of the request And characterized in that it has a reduced service user setting means for performing a provider membership registration of reduced the provider usage fee Ri.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the net service system for insurance policyholders according to the first aspect, wherein the reduced service user setting means transmits the reduced service fee from the insurance company processing device when registering a reduced provider usage fee. It is characterized by confirming a contractor who has made a provider member registration request based on the provided provider information of the Internet connection software.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the net service system for insurance policyholders according to the first or second aspect, wherein the reduced service user setting means performs the insurance company processing when the reduced provider usage fee is registered as a provider member. Using the provider information of the Internet connection software provided from the device, the number of input information by the contractor who made the provider member registration request was made smaller than the number of input information by the non-contractor in the provider member registration request. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network service system for policyholders according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the reduced service user setting means includes a reduced provider usage fee stored in the insurance company processing device. It is characterized by notifying information of a contractor who has registered as a provider member.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the network service system for policyholders according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the reduced service user setting means sets an expiration date as an application term of the reduced provider usage fee. It is set based on the information of the insurance contract pertaining to the contractor.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the net service system for insurance policyholders according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the reduced service user setting means is a provider member registered for a basic provider usage fee. When a contractor makes a request for provider member registration using the Internet connection software, or when the identity of the contractor is confirmed by inputting ID, password, etc. given at the time of insurance contract, It is characterized in that the information on the provider usage fee to be applied is changed from the basic provider usage fee to a reduced provider usage fee.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a net service system for policyholders according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the reduced service user setting means is configured to execute the insurance service for the policyholder from the insurance company processing device. When a notice of termination such as cancellation, expiration, or non-continuation of the contract is given, the information on the applicable provider usage fee is changed from the reduced provider usage fee to the basic provider usage fee.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the net service system for insurance policyholders according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the reduced service user setting means includes a policy such as the number of insurance policies and the details of the policy of the policyholder. According to the situation, the amount to be reduced from the basic provider usage fee is variably set.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the net service system for policyholders according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the reduced service user setting means is adapted to reduce a communication fee in addition to a provider usage fee. It is characterized by being.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (A) Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a network service system for policyholders according to the present invention is applied to car insurance and the like will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(A-1) Configuration of the Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of a network service system 1 for insurance policyholders of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the network service system 1 for policyholders according to the embodiment is based on the assumption that hardware elements relating to customers, providers and insurance companies.

In this system 1, a customer of an insurance contract has a function of taking out a Web page via the Internet 2 and inputting predetermined information to the Web page. It is intended for a person having a customer terminal 3 which is an information processing device such as a personal computer or a mobile communication terminal (including a mobile phone). That is, although the detailed configuration of the customer terminal 3 is omitted,
Any information processing device having a general configuration having an access function to the Internet 2 may be used.

In the case of this embodiment, the customer terminal 3 is loaded with a browser program 3a provided by the insurance company, for example, as described later, for processing such as joining or continuing an insurance contract. I need to do that. The browser program 3a has a function of connecting to a provider server 4 of a provider affiliated with an insurance company during initial access to the Internet 2. Hereinafter, the browser program 3a is referred to as Internet connection software. The Internet connection software also has a provider member registration function, as described later.

As is well known, the provider server 4 installed by the provider provides a Web page for access via the Internet 2.

In this embodiment, the provider is affiliated with the insurance company related to the system 1. The provider server 4 appropriately retrieves a web page for insurance business processing such as enrollment or continuation of an insurance contract from an insurance company's device and provides the same to the customer terminal 3. It takes in the input information and provides it to the insurance company's device. Note that a Web page for insurance business processing may be stored in the provider server 4.

That is, the provider server 4 includes a processing unit 4a for performing business processing of the network service for policyholders in cooperation with the system element on the insurance company side. In this point, it is different from a general provider server. In the case of this embodiment, the provider server 4 can be connected to a system element on the insurance company side, for example, via a dedicated line 7.

The provider server 4 is provided with various databases (collectively indicated by reference numeral 6 in FIG. 1) necessary for business processing of a net service for policyholders. I have. The various databases 6 will be clarified in the operation description described later.

An insurance company (such as an office processing center)
Insurance company server 10 (hereinafter referred to as insurance company server to distinguish it from provider server 4), various databases 11, host computer 12, center terminal 13, dedicated printing unit 14, form reading unit 15, business branch terminal 16, and form reading A part 17 and the like are provided.

Although the insurance company server 10 is actually composed of a plurality of servers such as a communication server and an application server, they are shown together in FIG. The insurance company server 10 has a communication function with the provider server 4 and the like. The insurance company server 10 retrieves a Web page from a database and supplies the Web page to the provider server 4, creates digitized data to be supplied to the provider server 4, and processes data received from the provider server 4 as appropriate.

The various databases 11 are accessed by the insurance company server 10 and the host computer 12 as appropriate. For details of the various databases 11,
This will be clarified in the operation description to be described later.

The host computer 12 performs processing for the contract database, such as recording of accounting data in various contract databases. In this specification, description will be made assuming that the insurance company server 10 mainly performs insurance contract subscription and continuation processing via the Internet 2 in conjunction with the provider server 4.

The host computer 12 is connected to a center terminal 13 (one terminal is shown in FIG. 1, but a plurality is actually used). The center terminal 13 has a general configuration such as an input unit, a display unit, and a printing unit (not shown). In addition to this, a dedicated printing unit (printer) for printing a form or the like conforming to a special format related to insurance business. )
14 and a form reading unit (OC for reading various forms)
R) 15 is also connected.

The form reading unit 17 is connected to the host computer 12 via a communication server or a dedicated line (not shown).
1 is shown in FIG. 1 (one is shown in FIG. 1 but actually a plurality of terminals), and this also constitutes a part of the insurance company side device. The accounting data of the paper form is also converted into the sales branch terminal 16.

An operator terminal (not shown) can be connected to the insurance company server 10 via a communication network (not shown). With regard to non-life insurance contracts such as car insurance, there is a contract handler (hereinafter simply referred to as a handler) in addition to an insurance company and a customer (policy). Here, it is a sales office employee of an insurance company, an employee of an agency, an individual agent, etc., and the handling person also has a general configuration such as an input unit, a display unit, a printing unit (not shown), an insurance business. Has an operator terminal to which a dedicated printing unit (printer) for printing a form or the like according to the special format according to the above is connected. The conversion of the paper form into accounting data is also performed appropriately at the operator terminal.

(A-2-1) Pre-Process for Receiving Provider Usage Charge Reduction Service (1) Next, the operation of the system 1 of the embodiment and the operation of a human (handler or customer) are described together with the processing flow. explain.

In the following description, the term “customer” refers to a policyholder or a potential policyholder from the perspective of an insurance company, and the term “member” refers to a contract with an Internet access contract with a provider. Or who is trying to conclude.

The customer can perform processing such as joining or continuing an insurance contract via the Internet 2. In the case of this embodiment, when a customer (a contractor) performs processing such as joining or continuing an insurance contract through the Internet 2,
The system is characterized in that the system provides the customer with a reduced service for reducing the provider usage fee from the basic fee. The reduction target may be a communication fee for accessing the Internet in addition to the provider usage fee. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, the reduction target is the provider usage fee.

The following pre-processing is required to receive the service for reducing the provider usage fee. First, a first example of the preprocessing will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation and processing flow in the case of the first example. Note that the terms “customer”, “handler”, “insurer”, and “provider” in these drawings may represent a person or a device.

At the time of contracting a new customer, the operator first fills out a predetermined column of an insurance contract application form (FIG. 4 is an example of a car insurance contract) 20 shown in FIG. (Or let the customer fill out some items) and complete the application form (T1). If the insurance payment method is cash, the insurance fee is collected at this time. In the case of account transfer, credit card or debit card payment, etc., a form for that purpose is entered, or the customer is made to enter.

The contract application form 20 of this embodiment has many similar fields as compared to the conventional contract application form, but the customer (insurance policyholder) 's intention such as whether or not Internet connection software is required. In that there is a column 20a for entering In addition, the back of this contract application form 20, the entry column 20
In the lower part of a, etc., note that if this Internet connection software is used and Internet 2 is used to make a continuous contract or a new subscription contract in the future, the provider fee will be discounted compared to other cases. It is preferable to describe. Even if there is no such a note, it is preferable that the handler gives an explanation to that effect.

The operator checks the contents of the contract application form and the like, converts the contents of the contract application form and the like into data (accounted data) and transfers the data to the insurance company server 10, or mails, brings, etc. To the insurance company (T2, T
3). If a mistake is found when checking the contents of the contract application form, the operator informs the customer that the visit is to be made in advance using, for example, a telephone, and then goes to the customer's place. Fix it.

In the insurance company, after confirming the contents of the contract application form given as a paper form, the data is converted into data (accounted data).
0, the data relating to the contents of the contract application form is checked, and the insurance contract database 11a is checked.
(T4).

The host computer 12 registers new enrollment data in the insurance contract database 11a at a predetermined cycle such as once a day or once a week, and issues an insurance policy to a customer to whom the insurance policy is sent. Perform processing (T
5-1 and T5-2). The printing process of the insurance policy itself is performed by, for example, the dedicated printing unit 14.

Here, the host computer 12 divides the customers to whom the new subscription data is registered and sends the insurance policy into two groups: a customer who needs the Internet connection software and a customer who does not need it. Issue (print) (T5-1, T5-2). This grouping is based on the entry information in the entry field 20a of the contract application form 20, as described above.

In the first example of the preprocessing, the Internet connection software 3a is provided on a CD-ROM (referred to as CD-R in FIGS. 2 and 3).

For customers who do not need Internet connection software, the insurance company may use the automatic enclosing device or manually enclose the issued insurance policy (T
6-1), the mail is sent to the customer by mail or courier service (registered trademark), and the customer receives it (T7-1).

On the other hand, for a customer who needs internet connection software, the insurance company prepares the insurance policy issued and provided by the provider or provided by the provider with permission from the provider. After the CD-ROM on which the Internet connection software is recorded is inserted using an automatic encapsulation device or manually (T6-2), it is sent to the customer by mail, courier service, or the like. Is received (T7-2).

The host computer 12 (or the insurance company server 10) provides information such as addresses, names, and security numbers of customers who need Internet connection software at almost the same time as issuing insurance policies. Is extracted and transmitted to the provider server 4 via the dedicated line 7 (this transmission is preferably an encrypted transmission), and the provider server 4
It is stored in the Internet connection software applicant list 6a (a kind of database) (T8).

It should be noted that the process of extracting customers who need Internet connection software may be started from the provider server 4.

The customer who has received the CD-ROM (Internet connection software) 3a together with the insurance policy is the customer terminal 3
Is loaded with a CD-ROM 3a, or
Install the recording information in the ROM 3a (T
9) Connect to the provider (provider server 4) and perform a member registration operation (T10).

The communication between the customer terminal 3 and the provider (provider server 4) is performed by including the encryption processing function (encryption software and encryption key) in the Internet connection software 3a. Is preferred. Note that instead of encrypting all data,
Only a predetermined part of data may be encrypted.

Here, the Internet connection software 3a
Although the illustration of the functional unit configuration (file configuration) is omitted,
Like the existing Internet connection software, it has a browser function unit and a member registration function unit for the provider (provider server 4), and the customer performs a member registration operation using the member registration function unit of the Internet connection software 3a. Do.

In the case of this embodiment, the customer (customer terminal 3)
Is substantially the same as the existing Internet connection software, but also performs a characteristic process (customer information acquisition process) as shown in FIG. In addition, FIG.
It is described from the processing side of the provider server 4.

The customer inputs the policy number of the insurance policy and the like to the customer terminal 3 as information identifying itself and sends it to the provider (provider server 4) (S1). At this time, the provider server 4 accesses the Internet connection software applicant list 6a using the securities number or the like as a key, extracts specific information such as the address and name of the customer, sends it to the customer terminal 3, and displays it. (S2, S
3). The customer confirms the specified information such as the displayed address and name and returns it to the provider server 4 (S4). The provider server 4 receives the reply and specifies the address and name of the newly registered member. Confirm the information (S
5).

According to such processing, the customer does not need to input specific information such as an address and a name when becoming a member of the provider.

In the above description, the Internet connection software applicant list 6a is accessed using the security number or the like as a key. However, without providing the Internet connection software applicant list 6a, the insurance contract database 11a of the insurance company is provided. May be accessed to extract specific information such as the address and name of the customer. Further, even if the name, address, and the like are not input, the identity of the contractor may be confirmed by inputting, for example, an ID and a password given at the time of the insurance contract.

The characteristic processing of the member registration processing in this embodiment has been described above in detail. In addition to this, processing for obtaining an e-mail address, inputting information such as a credit card (inputting a billing method), setting processing for a password, etc. Necessary processing for becoming a member of the provider is performed as appropriate.

When the information necessary for becoming a provider member is completed, the provider server 4 stores the member database 6
The member information is registered in b (T11).

The member database 6b shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a customer (contractor) of the insurance company, and becomes a member of the provider using the Internet connection software 3a sent from the insurance company. Represents a database of members who have The provider according to this embodiment may separately have a database of persons who have become members by other methods. In addition, using the same member database, with the flag etc., the insurance company's customer (contractor)
In addition, the member who has become a member of the provider may be distinguished from other members by using the Internet connection software 3a sent from the insurance company.

Further, the provider server 4 transmits information such as a mail address and a password of the customer of the insurance company registered as a member to the insurance company server 10 and stores the information in the information section about the customer in the insurance contract database 11a. Add information such as email address and password. It should be noted that the insurance company server 10 may start the process of causing the insurance contract database 11a to add a mail address, a password, and the like.

For example, when an e-mail is sent for a continuation guide to be sent when the expiration date of an insurance contract is approaching,
E-mail addresses are used (Japanese Patent Application 2000-13)
3817).

(A-2-2) Pre-Process for Receiving Provider Usage Charge Reduction Service (2) Next, a second example of the pre-processing for bringing the customer into the state of receiving the provider usage fee reduction service is shown in the drawing. It will be described with reference to FIG.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory views showing the operation and the flow of processing in the case of the second example.
The same and corresponding processes as those in FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 are denoted by the same and corresponding reference numerals.

The processing (T1 to T7-2) until the customer who desires the Internet connection software obtains the CD-ROM (Internet connection software) 3a is almost the same as the first example of the preprocessing described above. .

The difference from the first example of the preprocessing is that the provider server 4 does not create the Internet connection software applicant list 6a.

In the case of the first example of the preprocessing, the CD-RO
Internet connection software 3a recorded in M
The second example is dedicated to customers of insurance contracts, although they could be used by customers other than insurance contract customers. Therefore, the Internet connection software 3a of the second example includes a connection service marking processing function for distinguishing whether a customer of an insurance contract has connected to the provider server 4 or a non-customer has connected to the provider server 4. .

Also in this second example, together with the insurance policy,
The customer who has received the CD-ROM (Internet connection software) 3a loads the CD-ROM 3a into the customer terminal 3 or installs the recording information of the CD-ROM 3a in advance (T9), and provides the provider (provider server). Perform connection and member registration operation for 4) (T1)
0).

In the case of the second example, the customer (customer terminal 3)
First reveals that it is a connection service for insurance policy customers. As a result, the provider server 4 performs a member registration process for a customer of an insurance contract, instead of a member registration process for a member other than a customer of an insurance contract.

The member registration process for the customer of the insurance contract and the member registration process for a person other than the customer of the insurance contract include a process of obtaining an e-mail address, a process of inputting information such as a credit card (input of a billing method), a process of password Is the same, but the input information for specifying the member is different. In the member registration process for insurance contract customers, not only the member information (customer information) similar to the member registration process for non-customers of the insurance contract, such as address and name, but also information related to the insurance contract such as a security number are also obtained. Input.

When the necessary information for becoming a provider member for the insurance contract customer is prepared, the provider server 4
Registers the member (customer) information in the member database 6b (T11).

Further, the provider server 4 stores the security number, address, name,
Information such as a mail address and a password is transmitted to the insurance company server 10, and the insurance company server 10 stores the received information in the matching waiting reception database 11b (T1).
3). The insurance company server 10 compares the security number, address, and name of the insurance company customer stored in the matching waiting reception database 11b with the security number, address, and name of the customer stored in the insurance contract database 11a. When they match, the received information such as the e-mail address and password is stored in the insurance contract database 11.
a (T14). At this time, information is also deleted from the matching waiting reception database 11b.

Also in the second example, the insurance company server 10 may start the transfer of the customer information additionally registered in the member database 6b to the insurance company server 10.

(A-2-3) Pre-Process for Receiving Provider Usage Charge Reduction Service (3) Next, a third example of the pre-processing for bringing the customer into the state of receiving the provider usage fee reduction service is shown in the drawing. It will be described with reference to FIG.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation and the flow of processing in the case of the third example.
The same and corresponding processes as those in FIG. 3 and FIG.

This third example is different from the first example in that the Internet connection software 3a used by the customer of the insurance contract is provided by downloading from the provider server 4 to the customer terminal 3.

As is clear from the comparison between FIG. 8 and FIG.
In this third example, for a customer who needs Internet connection software, the insurance company does not enclose the issued insurance policy and the CD-ROM on which the Internet connection software is recorded, but the insurance company The issued insurance policy and the paper 3ax describing the address of the homepage of the provider server 4 (the top Web page of the provider server 4) are enclosed and sent to the customer by mail or courier (T6-2). Receiving these (T7-
2).

The customer who has received the form 3ax containing the homepage address and the like together with the insurance policy inputs the homepage address and the like described on the form 3ax to the customer terminal 3, and opens the homepage of the provider server 4 (T15). ), The user downloads the Internet connection software 3a by clicking on a request item of the Internet connection software 3a on the homepage, and installs it on the customer terminal 3 (T9).

The customer (customer terminal 3) and the provider (provider server 4) then perform a member registration process for the provider in the same manner as in the first example (T10 to T12).

(A-2-4) Pre-Process for Receiving Provider Usage Charge Reduction Service (4) Next, a fourth example of the pre-processing for bringing the customer into the state of receiving the provider usage fee reduction service is shown in FIG. It will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation and the flow of processing of the fourth example of the preprocessing, which are the same as the corresponding drawings in the first to third examples, corresponding processing, and the like. Are denoted by the same reference numerals.

This fourth example is based on the second example, and the Internet connection software 3 shown in the third example is added to the processing of the second example.
a to which the download method a is applied. Therefore, the flow of the process of the fourth example can be understood from the description of the second and third examples, and the detailed description is omitted.

The difference from the second example except for the download of the Internet connection software 3a is as follows.
Is a point. In the case of the second example, when the customer of the insurance contract performs the member registration operation of the provider, it is necessary to identify the access to the provider server 4 related to the member registration by the customer of the insurance contract to the provider server 4. However, when downloading the Internet connection software 3a using the homepage opened at the homepage address or the like described on the form 3ax, the customer is required to download the Internet connection software 3a dedicated to the customer of the insurance contract. Even in the case where it is performed, it is not necessary to identify that the customer of the insurance contract accesses the provider server 4 relating to the member registration.

(A-3) Insurance Business Processing Using the Internet Next, insurance business processing using the Internet 2 (provider server 4) in this embodiment will be described. Note that the insurance business processing to be described below is based on the premise that the above-described preprocessing has been executed. This embodiment has a feature in a setting process of a provider usage fee and the like to be described later, and the insurance business process itself using the Internet 2 (provider server 4) is substantially the same as the process using the existing Internet. Therefore, the insurance business process using the Internet 2 (provider server 4) will be briefly described below. In addition,
The communication between the components described below is preferably an encrypted communication.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of insurance business processing of this embodiment.

(V1) The customer uses the Internet connection software 3a installed in the customer terminal 3 to provide a provider (provider server 4) with a member contract.
And open a Web page (omitted in FIG. 12) relating to the insurance company to perform insurance policy continuation procedures and new enrollment procedures. Information according to this procedure is given to the insurance company (the insurance company server 10). It is recorded in the insurance contract database 11a, and an insurance policy is issued as appropriate.

Note that the member confirmation at the time of access to the provider server 4 is determined by the provider (provider server 4).
Is confirmed based on the information stored in the member database 6a, and the customer who can execute the insurance contract continuation procedure and the new enrollment procedure is confirmed based on the information stored in the insurance contract database 11a. Further, the customer only has to input a security number or the like for identity verification, and the name and address may be displayed on the customer terminal 3 and confirmed on the customer terminal 3 extracted from the insurance contract database 11a. . The following processing V
The same applies to 2 and V3.

The provider (provider server 4) sends information relating to the insurance contract continuation procedure and the new enrollment procedure to the operator (the operator terminal 8), receives a confirmation reply from the operator, and It may be transmitted to a company (insurance company server 10) (see reference numeral V1a in FIG. 12).

(V2) The provider (provider server 4) has a Web page of a vehicle sales company or a travel agency that entrusts insurance subscription business and the like to the insurance company, or can retrieve it from the devices of those companies. Yes, that W
As a part of the eb page (lower link page), a page for performing insurance subscription business and the like is prepared.

The customer opens the web page of such a vehicle sales company or a travel agency by using the Internet connection software 3a installed in the customer terminal 3, and performs a new insurance contract entry procedure and an insurance fee. A trial calculation procedure can be performed. The insurance premium is calculated by the insurance company (the insurance company server 10) or the operator (the operator terminal 8).

(V3) The provider (provider server 4) has a web page of the handler. The customer uses the Internet connection software 3a installed on the customer terminal 3.
To open the web page of such an operator,
It is possible to perform procedures such as new insurance policy entry, insurance policy continuation, insurance premium calculation, policy inquiry, and transfer for changing a part of the policy.

The information relating to such a procedure may be provided by the provider server 4 not only to the insurance company (the insurance company server 10) but also to the operator (the operator terminal 8). Further, the provider server 4 may give the information to the operator (the operator terminal 8), obtain the confirmation, and then give the information to the insurance company (the insurance company server 10).

(V4) The provider (provider server 4) setstle the provider usage fee at an appropriate timing in cooperation with a settlement institution such as a financial institution or a credit company.

The insurance company (the insurance company server 10 or the host computer 12) also setstle the insurance premium at an appropriate timing in cooperation with a settlement institution such as a financial institution or a credit company.

(V5) The insurance company (the insurance company server 10 or the host computer 12) accesses the insurance contract database 11a, recognizes the insurance contract whose maturity is due after a predetermined period, etc., and informs the user of the maturity (insurance contract information). The e-mail data of the guidance for requesting continuation is formed, and the e-mail is sent to the corresponding customer (customer terminal 3) using the e-mail transfer function of the provider server 4. Further, the insurance company (the insurance company server 10 or the host computer 12) forms e-mail data for guiding a new product (new insurance contract) and uses the e-mail transfer function of the provider server 4 to provide a predetermined customer. Send an e-mail to (customer terminal 3).

The e-mail address used at this time is the one set to the customer (provider member) in the pre-processing described above.

It should be noted that the operator (the operator terminal 8) may be interposed or relayed for sending such a guide e-mail.

(A-4) Setting Control of Reduced Service Users such as Provider Usage Fees In this embodiment, promotion of new subscription and continuation of an insurance contract using a provider (provider server 4) affiliated with an insurance company. In order to achieve this, a major feature is that the provider usage fee of the insurance company customer (provider member) is reduced from the provider usage fee (basic provider usage fee) of the provider member other than the insurance company customer. The reduction target is, as described above,
It may be a communication fee or the like.

Hereinafter, the process of setting the service for reducing the provider usage fee for the customer (provider member) of the insurance company using the provider (provider server 4) will be described. The settlement method itself for the (cumulative amount of) the determined provider usage fee is as described above.

Although the following description of the setting control of the provider usage fee partially overlaps with the description of the above-described preprocessing, etc., it is a description from the setting control side and is more detailed than the above description. The description will be repeated as it is.

(A-4-1) Service Setting Control at the Time of New Subscription or Continuation of Insurance Contract FIGS. 13 to 15 show customers who have newly subscribed or continued the insurance contract (insurers of the insurance contract). FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing processing in the insurance company server 10, the host computer 12, and the provider server 4 after receiving the information of FIG.
It is organized and shown in terms of provider charge settings. Naturally, the insurance company server 10, the host computer 12, and the provider server 4 have a processing program for executing the processing shown in FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 13, the insurance company server 10 and the host computer 12 accept information on new customers who have joined the insurance contract and customers who have continued the insurance according to the type of insurance contract (T20). A contract ledger (which is a database) is created (T21). Then, the host computer 12 performs the following processing for each item based on the contract ledger for each item.

Now, it is determined whether or not each of the policyholders of the target insurance contract type needs the Internet connection software (T22). In other words, the service for reducing the provider usage fee will be used in the future. It is determined whether the person is a willing person (a person who joins or continues an insurance contract using the Internet), and information of a person who needs the Internet connection software is stored in the service user database 11A (T23). The information of the person who does not need the Internet connection software is stored in the database 11B of the person who does not wish to use the service (T24).

When the distribution of the information on all the policyholders of the target insurance contract type to the database 11A or 11B is completed, the policyholders in the respective databases 11A and 11B are stored in the service user database. Person registered in 11C (provider member)
(T25, T26). Here, the service user database 11 used for the matching process
C is for an existing service user (provider member), which also includes information of other types of service users.

Note that the service user database 11C
Stores the information of the target user (service user) of the provider use fee reduction service. The provider member database 6D described later stores the target user (service user) of the provider use fee reduction service.
Irrespective of the presence or absence of the information, the information of the provider member is stored. In other words, the provider members include a provider member who is a target (service user) of the provider use fee reduction service and a provider member who is not a target of the reduction service.

If the contractor relating to the service user database 11A is not registered in the service user database 11C, the information of the contractor is registered in the new provider temporary registrant database 11D (T27). . Provider temporary registrant database 11D
Is transmitted to the provider server 4 by the insurance company server 10.

Then, by the provider server 4,
New provider temporary registrant database 6A (= 1
As shown in FIG. 14, the information of the contractor registered in 1D) is provisionally registered as a provider member, and not only the contractor relating to the new subscription or continuation this time, but also the entire completed registrant so far is registered. It is moved to the provider temporary registrant database 6B (T28).

On the other hand, when the contractor related to the service user database 11A is registered in the service user database 11C (see FIG. 13),
The host computer 12 registers the service user (contractor) information in the existing service user term update database 11E (T29). Database 11E
Is also transmitted to the provider server 4.

Then, the provider server 4
As shown in (3), based on the information of the subscriber registered in the existing service user term update database 6C (= 11E), the term update processing for reducing the provider fee as a reduced member is performed (T30). In this update process, the expiration date (service use expiration date) of the member in the provider member database 6D is updated, and the update mail is sent and activated. Thereby, the provider server 4
Creates an e-mail for updating the service usage period and sends the e-mail to the subscriber (T31, T3)
2). The contractor appropriately receives the e-mail and performs a process of marking a time limit such as a printout. The extension date is, for example, a date obtained by adding a predetermined period based on the current contract conclusion date.

Further, the host computer 12 executes the service user database 1 based on the information of the contractor registered in the existing service user term update database 11E.
The service provider also updates the provider expiration date of the provider's fee reduction service in 1C (T33).

The host computer 12 performs matching between the database 11B of a person who does not desire to use the service and the service user database 11C (T26; FIG. 1).
3) In this contract, if it is found that a person who did not request the Internet connection software 3a (a person who does not wish to use the service) is registered as a service user, an existing service that does not wish to use the service this time Register in the user database 11F (T34), and then
The insurance company server 10 creates an e-mail for confirming the service expiration date for the person, and sends the e-mail to the contractor (T35, T36). The contractor appropriately receives the e-mail, and confirms a deadline for receiving his or her reduced service, such as printout.

On the other hand, by matching the database 11B of the person who does not desire to use the service with the service user database 11C, the person who did not seek the Internet connection software 3a (the person who does not want to use the service) is not registered as a service user. In this case, the processing shifts to the normal processing. That is, no processing for becoming a provider member is performed, and the user is not marked as a reduced-service user.

As described above, a new user who wishes to use the reduced service (policy policy holder) is provided with the Internet connection software 3a by a recording medium or download. come. 14 and 15 also show the case of access from a contractor other than a new applicant of the reduced service.

Upon access from the contractor, the provider server 4 confirms that the accessing person is a temporary registrant as a provider member as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the user is an existing member (T37). That is, it is determined whether or not the registered user is a provider member but has not yet requested the reduced service and has requested the reduced service from the current insurance contract.

[0114] When a provider member accesses from the current insurance contract in hope of a reduced service, the service provider's fee reduction service term is set and the existing member's fee reduction term setting database 6E is set. Register (T38). With respect to the contractor (provider existing member) registered in this database 6E, the information in the provider member database 6D is updated as the user (including the term information) of the reduction service (T39), and the notification of the fact is received. Insurance company server 1
0 is the service user database 11
C (T40). Also, provider server 4
Creates an e-mail for notification of the start of the reduction service, the deadline, etc., and sends the e-mail to the contractor as shown in FIG. The contractor receives the e-mail as appropriate, and recognizes that the reduction service has been started, such as printout, and the time limit for receiving the reduced service.

When the accessing contractor is not an existing provider member, as shown in FIG. 14, the provider server 4 determines whether or not a provider member registration is required (T43). That is, the contractor
It is determined whether the user is not a provider member but is registered in the provider member temporary registration database 6B.

When the accessing contractor is a person who needs to register as a provider member, the provider server 4
Register in the provider member new registration database 6F (T44). At this time, the term of service for reducing the provider usage fee is set. In addition, the information of the provider member is deleted from the provisional member registration database 6B.

The provider server 4 additionally registers the contractor registered in the provider member new registration database 6F as a user of the reduced service (including the term information) in the provider member database 6D (T45). The insurance company server 10 having received the notification of the
1C (T46). Also, as shown in FIG. 15, the provider server 4 creates an e-mail for notification of registration as a service user, start of a reduced service, a deadline, and sends the e-mail to the contractor (T4).
7, T48). The contractor receives the email from time to time,
It recognizes, for example, by printing or the like, that registration as a user of the reduction service has been made, that the reduction service has started, and the time limit for receiving the reduction service.

If the accessing contractor is not an existing provider member and is not provisionally registered (negative result in T43), the provider server 4 returns to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, an e-mail for notifying that the reduced service cannot be received is created, and the e-mail is sent to the contractor (T49, T50). The contractor receives the e-mail as appropriate, and recognizes by printing or the like that the reduced service cannot be used.

(A-4-2) Service Setting Control for Cancellation, Expiration, or Uncontinuation of Insurance Contract FIG. 16 and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting control process of a reduction service in an insurance company server 10, a host computer 12, and a provider server 4 (included in the term). Naturally, the insurance company server 10, the host computer 12, and the provider server 4 are the same as those shown in FIGS.
The processing program for executing the processing shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 16, the insurance company server 10 and the host computer 12 accept information on canceled or expired insurance contracts for each type of insurance contract (T
60), a ledger (can be a database) for each individual event is created (T61). Then, the following process is performed for each item based on the contractor ledger for each item.

The host computer 12 confirms whether or not each surrender / revoker of the target insurance contract type is a person registered in the service user database 11C (T62).

If it is determined by this confirmation that the other type of insurance contract has not been registered as a user of the reduction service, the host computer 12
Registers the information of the person in the service suspender database 11G (T63). On the other hand, when it is found that the insurance contract of another type is registered as a user of the reduced service, the host computer 12 executes the existing service. The information of the user (including the corrected time limit) is registered in the user time limit correction database 11H (T64).

Thereafter, these databases 11G, 11G
H based on the information stored in the service user database 1
The data of 1C is updated (T65). Specifically, the data of the person registered in the service suspender database 11G is deleted from the service user database 11C.
In addition, the existing service user term correction database 11H
For the registered person, the provision deadline of the reduced service in the service user database 11C is corrected.
At the same time, an item of the insurance contract for providing the reduction service may be modified (erasing the canceled or expired item).

Information of both databases 11G and 11H is transmitted to the provider server 4.

As shown in FIG. 17, the provider server 4 uses the information in the provider member database 6D for a person registered in the service suspender database 6G (= 11G) to indicate that the reduced service is used. The data is updated to the data indicating that the service has been canceled (T66), an e-mail for confirming the cancellation of the reduction service is created, and the e-mail is sent to the contractor (T67,
T68). The contractor of the canceled or expired insurance contract receives the e-mail as appropriate, and recognizes the cancellation of the reduced amount service by printout or the like. Even in this case, the person is still a provider member.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the provider server 4 corrects the information in the provider member database 6D for the person registered in the existing service user term correction database 11H (= 6H) with respect to the term of the reduced service. (T69), an e-mail for confirming the expiration date of the reduced service is created, and the e-mail is sent to the contractor (T70, T71). Terminate certain types of insurance contracts,
The expired contractor receives the e-mail as appropriate, and recognizes by printing or the like that the deadline for the reduced service has been corrected.

(A-4-3) Service setting control at the time of provider member cancellation FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing setting control processing of a reduced service in the provider server 4 and the insurance company server 10 at the time of provider member cancellation. As a matter of course, the provider server 4 and the insurance company server 10 have processing programs for executing the processing shown in FIG.

The contractor of the insurance contract can arbitrarily apply for cancellation of the provider member, and can apply for cancellation by accessing the provider server 4 using the provided Internet connection software 3a.

When the provider server 4 receives the application for canceling the provider member from the contractor (to be a user of the reduced service) (T80), the provider server 4 deletes the data of the person from the provider member database 6D (T81),
In addition, the usage fee reduction service cancellation contractor data for the person is created and registered in the usage fee reduction service cancellation contractor database 6I (T82). Then, at an appropriate timing, the insurance company server 10 also deletes the data of the person registered in the usage fee reduction service cancellation contractor database 6I from the service user database 11C (T83).

(A-4-4) Service Setting Control at the Time of Correcting Provider Member Information FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing setting control processing of a reduction service in the provider server 4 and the insurance company server 10 at the time of correcting provider member information. It is. Naturally, the provider server 4 and the insurance company server 10 have processing programs for executing the processing shown in FIG.

When the contractor of the insurance contract (the user of the reduction service) changes the e-mail address and the address, the contractor can notify the provider server 4 using the provided Internet connection software 3a.

When notified of the change of the e-mail address or the like from the contractor (T90), the provider server 4 corrects the data of the person in the provider member database 6D according to the contents of the notification (T91). Update data of the usage fee reduction service subscriber data is created and registered in the usage fee reduction service subscriber change database 6J (T92). Then, at an appropriate timing, the insurance company server 10 corrects the data of the person in the service user database 11C according to the change data of the person registered in the usage fee reduction service user contractor change database 6J (T93). .

(A-5) Effects of the Embodiment According to the system of the above-described embodiment, a customer (contract) of an insurance contract that has requested the Internet connection software in accordance with an application form for joining or continuing an insurance contract. Has increased the number of customers who use the Internet to subscribe to insurance contracts and continue processing, by providing internet connection software and reducing the usage fee of the provider affiliated with the insurance company from the original usage fee of the provider. Can be expected, and business efficiency and cost reduction at insurance companies can be expected.

Further, the service provider's fee reduction service is provided with a time limit, and by setting the time limit to, for example, the expiration date of the insurance contract, it is possible to promote the participation of the insurance contract using the Internet and the continuation processing. Can be
In this regard, it can be expected that business efficiency and cost reduction at insurance companies will be reduced.

Further, according to the system of the above embodiment, the insurance company customer who accesses the provider server using the Internet connection software sent from the insurance company is registered as a provider member. The system is designed to increase members, and the benefits are great. In addition, a person who becomes a provider member can be confirmed by information from the insurance company, and simplification of authentication processing at the time of member registration processing can be expected.

[0136] Furthermore, there is a merit that the contractor (customer) of the insurance contract can become a provider member by a simple operation, and can enjoy the Internet at a low provider usage fee.

(B) Other Embodiments In the description of the above embodiment, various modified embodiments have been described, but further modified embodiments as exemplified below can be cited.

In the description of the above-described embodiment, whether the distribution of the Internet connection software 3a to the customer (contractor) of the insurance company is performed for free or for a fee is not mentioned. However, considering the increase in subscription and continuation of insurance contracts using the Internet, free of charge would be preferable.

The application of the low provider usage fee to the user of the reduced service may be applied only when accessing the provider server 4 related to the insurance contract.
The present invention may be applied to access to (Internet 2).

Further, with regard to access for providing a service for reducing the provider usage fee, the insurance company may bear a financial burden and supply money to the provider. For example, the provider server 4 recognizes, at the end of each month, the number of users of the reduced service (the number of users may be different if the type is different), and performs an automatic transfer process from the insurance company account to the provider account. You may do it. Further, for example, the total access time and the number of times of the reduced service may be grasped and charged to the insurance company.

Furthermore, while the Internet connection software 3a is distributed to insurance policyholders who have indicated their intentions by applying for an insurance contract, etc., it is distributed to all policyholders who have not distributed them. You may do it. Also, the Internet connection software 3a may be distributed to a person who is not a contractor but has a possibility of contracting such as obtaining an insurance contract pamphlet.
In the claims, a person who has a possibility of contract is also defined as a contractor.

In the above embodiment, the Internet connection software is downloaded in response to a request from a customer. However, the software may be downloaded by starting an insurance company server or a provider server.

Further, the description of the above embodiment has centered on the reduction of the provider usage fee. However, the reduction of the communication fee when connecting to the Internet may be executed in the same manner.

Furthermore, the reduction fee of the provider usage fee may be fixed or variable. For example, the amount of reduction may be adjusted according to the number of insurance contracts or the content (for example, the insurance amount or the period of no accident).

The type of insurance to which the technical concept of the present invention is applied is not limited to automobile insurance, but may be other non-life insurance such as fire insurance, or a life insurance having the same processing flow as non-life insurance. Other insurance such as insurance (including pension insurance) may be used.

[0146]

As described above, according to the network service system for policyholders of the present invention, a provider processing device capable of providing a Web page for processing an insurance contract of an insurance company, and an insurance business process at the insurance company An insurance company processing device and a provider processing device having an initial access destination, a policy processing information processing terminal associated with a policyholder of an insurance contract, having installed Internet connection software provided by the insurance company, When the provider processing device receives a provider member registration request using the Internet connection software from the contractor information processing terminal, the provider processing device cooperates with the insurance company processing device to provide the contractor concerned with the basic provider use. There is a reduced service user setting means to register a provider member of the provider usage fee reduced from the fee In, the customer not only the (contractor) and the insurance company, can also realize the benefits is large policyholder for net service system for providers.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a network service system for policyholders according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram (1) illustrating a first example of preprocessing for receiving a provider use fee reduction service according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram (2) illustrating a first example of preprocessing for receiving a provider use fee reduction service according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an automobile insurance contract application form according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing characteristic processing in membership registration of a provider of an insurance contract customer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram (1) showing a second example of pre-processing for receiving a provider use fee reduction service according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram (2) illustrating a second example of preprocessing for receiving the provider use fee reduction service according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram (1) illustrating a third example of preprocessing for receiving a provider use fee reduction service according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram (2) illustrating a third example of the pre-processing for receiving the provider use fee reduction service according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (1) showing a fourth example of preprocessing for receiving a provider use fee reduction service according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram (2) illustrating a fourth example of the pre-processing for receiving the provider use fee reduction service according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing insurance contract processing centered on the provider server 4 of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram (1) showing a setting control process of a reduction service in the insurance company server 10, the host computer 12, and the provider server 4 when newly joining or continuing an insurance contract according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram (2) illustrating a setting control process of a reduction service in the insurance company server 10, the host computer 12, and the provider server 4 when the insurance contract is newly added or continued according to the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram (3) illustrating a setting control process of a reduction service in the insurance company server 10, the host computer 12, and the provider server 4 at the time of new subscription or continuation of the insurance contract according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram (1) illustrating a setting control process of a reduction service in the insurance company server 10, the host computer 12, and the provider server 4 when the insurance contract is canceled, expired, or not continued according to the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram (2) illustrating a setting control process of a reduction service in the insurance company server 10, the host computer 12, and the provider server 4 when the insurance contract is canceled, expired, or not continued according to the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting control process of a reduction service in the insurance company server 10 and the provider server 4 when the provider member cancels the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting control process of a reduction service in the insurance company server 10 and the provider server 4 when modifying the provider member information of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Net service system for policyholders, 2 ... Internet, 3 ... Customer terminal, 3a ... Internet connection software, 4 ... Provider server, 6 ... Various databases of provider, 7 ... Dedicated communication line, 10 ... Insurer company server, 11 ... various databases of insurance companies, 12 ... host computer, 13 ... center terminal, 14 ... dedicated printing unit, 15, 17 ... form reading unit, 16 ... business branch terminal.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A provider processing device capable of providing a web page for processing an insurance contract of an insurance company with which a provider is affiliated, an insurance company processing device for performing insurance business processing at the insurance company, and the provider processing device Is the initial access destination,
A policy information processing terminal pertaining to a policyholder of an insurance contract, in which the internet connection software provided by the insurance company is installed; and the provider processing device transmits the internet connection software from the policy information processing terminal. When there is a request for provider member registration used, in cooperation with the above insurance company processing device, the provider of the insurance contract related to the request is registered as a provider member with a provider usage fee less than the basic provider usage fee A net service system for insurance policyholders, comprising a reduced service user setting means for performing the following. 2. The reduced service user setting means, when registering a reduced provider usage fee as a provider member, based on provider information of the Internet connection software provided from the insurance company processing device. 2. The network service system for insurance policyholders according to claim 1, wherein the policyholder who has performed the transaction is confirmed. The reduced service user setting means uses provider information of the Internet connection software provided by the insurance company processing device when registering a reduced provider usage fee as a provider member, and registers the provider member. 3. The network service system for insurance policyholders according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of information input by the requesting policyholder is smaller than the number of information input in the provider member registration request of a person other than the policyholder. 4. The reduced service user setting means notifies the insurance company processing device of information of a contractor who has registered a reduced provider usage fee as a provider member. Net service system for policyholders according to any of the above. 5. The reduction service user setting means sets the application period of the reduced provider usage fee based on information on an insurance contract concerning a contractor such as an expiration date. Net service system for policyholders according to any of the above. 6. The reduction service user setting means, when there is a provider member registration request using the Internet connection software from a contractor who has registered a provider member of a basic provider usage fee,
Alternatively, when the identity of the contractor is confirmed by inputting the ID, password, etc. given at the time of the insurance contract, the information on the applicable provider usage fee is reduced from the basic provider usage fee to the reduced provider usage fee. The network service system for insurance policyholders according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the network service system is changed. 7. The reduction service user setting means, when a notice of termination such as cancellation, expiration, or non-continuation of the insurance contract of the policyholder is given from the insurance company processing device,
The internet service system for policyholders according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the information on the provider usage fee to be applied is changed from the reduced provider usage fee to a basic provider usage fee. 8. The reduction service user setting means variably sets an amount to be reduced from a basic provider usage charge in accordance with a contract situation such as the number of insurance contracts and the contents of the contract of the contractor. 7. A network service system for insurance policyholders according to any one of 1 to 7. 9. The network service system for insurance policyholders according to claim 1, wherein said reduction service user setting means reduces communication charges in addition to provider usage charges. .