Systems and methods for online selection of service providers and management of service accounts

1. A computer system, comprising:

an interchange party computer system (IPCS) configured for network communication with a plurality of consumer computer systems and a plurality of service provider computer systems, the service provider computer systems representing a plurality of service sectors, each sector including at least one service provider computer system;

at least one electronic page, embodied on a computer-readable storage medium, presentable by the IPCS that includes information about a plurality of service providers in the plurality of service sectors;

at least one electronic page, embodied on a computer-readable storage medium, presentable by the IPCS that includes a user interface configured to allow a consumer to input data to create or update a consumer profile comprising one or more attributes;

means for receiving data input by the consumer through the user interface;

means for determining service offers that match the one or more attributes to a predetermined degree;

means for automatically enrolling the consumer in a service program associated with at least one matching service offer; and

means for electronically returning to a consumer computer system a results page that contains details of any matching service programs or offerings.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the results page includes means for the consumer to electronically accept a matching service program or offer and institute enrollment therein.

3. A computer system, comprising:

an interchange party computer system (IPCS) configured for network communication with a plurality of consumer computer systems and a plurality of service provider computer systems, the service provider computer systems representing a plurality of service sectors, each sector including at least one service provider computer system;

at least one electronic page, embodied on a computer-readable storage medium, presentable from the IPCS that includes information about a plurality of service providers in the plurality of service sectors;

at least one electronic page, embodied on a computer-readable storage medium, presentable by the IPCS that includes a user interface configured to allow a consumer to input data to create or update consumer profile data;

means for receiving consumer profile data input through the user interface;

means for determining service programs that match the consumer profile data to a predetermined degree; and

means for automatically electronically enrolling the consumer in matching service programs.

4. An interchange party computer system (IPCS) comprising:

means for presenting user interfaces to a plurality of consumer computer systems and capturing data input through the user interfaces;

one or more databases storing data representing a plurality of consumer profiles for different consumers, the profiles including consumer profiles expressing service selection attributes for a plurality of service sectors, the one or more databases storing data for a plurality of service programs under a plurality of service sectors, each sector being represented by service programs from a plurality of service providers; and

one or more computer-readable storage media embodying an Automated Best Services Selection Module for finding service programs that match consumer profiles to a predetermined degree and for automatically enrolling consumers in matching programs, the one or more computer-readable storage media embodying at least one of the following program modules:

a Service Comparison/Selection Module for finding service programs that match consumer profiles to a predetermined degree;

an Automatic Bill Payment Module for allowing consumers to engage in automated billing transactions;

an Automated Services Monitoring Module for monitoring service program databases for service programs that match consumer profiles to a predetermined degree and notifying consumers of matching programs;

a Services Search Module for finding service programs that are offered on Internet websites not directly associated with the IPCS;

an Incentive Program Module for analyzing consumers' bills and spending habits to determine service programs offered through the IPCS that better match consumers needs;

a Data Mining Module for generation of information from data stored in or passed through the IPCS; or

a Pooling Module for providing a group of consumers benefits for group transactions with a service provider.

5. The computer system of claim 4 wherein the system includes at least 3 of the modules.

6. The computer system of claim 4 wherein the system includes at least 4 of the modules.

7. The computer system of claim 4 wherein the system includes at least 5 of the modules.

8. The computer system of claim 4 wherein the system includes at least 6 of the modules.

9. The computer system of claim 4 wherein the system includes at least the Service Comparison/Selection Module and the Automated Services Monitoring Module.

10. The computer system of claim 4 wherein the system includes at least the Data Mining Module and at least one of the Service Comparison/Selection Module, the Automatic Bill Payment Module, the Incentive Program Module, or the Pooling Module.

11. The computer system of claim 4 wherein the Automated Best Services Selection Module is configured, in response to finding a particular service that surpasses selected criteria in the consumer profiles, to automatically switch consumers to the particular service.

12. A tangible computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, if executed by a computing device, implement:

an Automated Best Service Selection Module for finding service programs that match consumer profiles to a predetermined degree and automatically enrolling consumers in matching programs, and at least one of the following additional program modules:

a Service Comparison/Selection Module for finding service programs that match consumer profiles to a predetermined degree;

an Automatic Bill Payment Module for allowing consumers to engage in automated billing transactions;

an Automated Services Monitoring Module for monitoring service program databases for service programs that match consumer profiles to a predetermined degree and notifying consumers of matching programs;

a Services Search Module for finding service programs that are offered on Internet websites not directly associated with the IPCS;

an Incentive Program Module for analyzing consumers' bills and spending habits to determine service programs offered through the IPCS that better match consumers needs;

a Data Mining Module for generation of information from data stored in or passed through the IPCS; or

a Pooling Module for providing a group of consumers benefits for group transactions with a service provider.

13. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the tangible computer-readable storage medium includes at least the Service Comparison/Selection Module and the Automated Services Monitoring Module.

14. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the tangible computer-readable storage medium includes at least the Data Mining Module and at least one of the Service Comparison/Selection Module, the Automatic Bill Payment Module, the Incentive Program Module, or the Pooling Module.

15. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the Automated Best Services Selection Module is configured, in response to finding a particular service that surpasses selected criteria in the consumer profiles, to automatically switch consumers to the particular service.