Return item early notification and return

• US 20040068464A1
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPS Data LLC (Zions Bancorporation, N.A.)
• Original Assignee: Zions Bancorporation, N.A.
• Inventors: Titus, William Ronald, Buchanan, Danne
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

A method, system and program product for processing electronic return items, the method comprising: receiving directly or indirectly from a plurality of different payor banks a plurality of different electronic return notification files, each electronic return notification file in the plurality for a different bank of first deposit, each electronic return notification file including a data structure with a designated bank of first deposit, an amount, and a reference key for the return item and a return reason; sorting multiple electronic return notification files by designated bank of first deposit; and sending each of a plurality of the electronic return notification files directly or indirectly to its respective designated bank of first deposit.

Claims

1. A method for processing electronic return items, comprising:

receiving directly or indirectly from a plurality of different payor banks a plurality of different electronic return notification files, each electronic return notification file in the plurality for a different bank of first deposit, each electronic return notification file including a data structure with a designated bank of first deposit, an amount, and a reference key for the return item and a return reason;

sorting multiple electronic return notification files by designated bank of first deposit; and

sending each of a plurality of the electronic return notification files directly or indirectly to its respective designated bank of first deposit.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the receiving directly or indirectly from a plurality of different payor banks step comprises receiving from a first processor a plurality of different electronic return notification files from the plurality of different payor banks;

wherein the first processor determines if the data in required fields in individual return item notification files are populated and whether the data in selected fields are within appropriate ranges, and initiates a communication process with the payor bank for a return notification file if errors are discovered in the data in order to obtain corrected data.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the first processor identifies the central processor to which to send the electronic return notification from among a plurality of central processors at different locations based on a criteria.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein the first processor performs the steps of:

sorting return notification files by central processor; and

batching electronic return notification files and sending the batched electronic return files to the selected central processor.

5. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein the criteria is one of a location of a bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification file and a location of a printer that services the bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification file.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising using the reference key to access an item image of the return item stored in an archive.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, the steps of:

generating an electronic settlement document for the one of the electronic return files;

sending the electronic settlement document directly or indirectly to the bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification file; and

causing the data of the image of the return item to be provided directly or indirectly to the bank of first deposit.

8. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

summing the amount in the return item notification files for a designated bank of first deposit to obtain a sum for the designated bank of first deposit; and

wherein the generating the electronic settlement document step comprises generating the electronic settlement document based on the sum for the designated bank of first deposit.

9. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

determining if the designated bank of first deposit requires a hard copy of the return item for a return transaction;

accessing the image data of the return item in the archive with the reference key;

selecting a printer location convenient to the designated bank of first deposit; and

sending the image data of the return item to the selected printer location.

10. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

accessing the image data of the return item in the archive with the reference key; and

causing the image data of the return item to be sent to the designated bank of first deposit in the return item notification file.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving with one of the return item notification files data for an item image of a respective return item.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, the steps of:

generating an electronic settlement document for the one of the electronic return files; and

sending the electronic settlement document directly or indirectly to the designated bank of first deposit with the reference key to the return item.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

summing the amounts in return item notification files for a designated bank of first deposit to obtain a sum for the bank of first deposit; and

wherein the generating the electronic settlement document step comprises generating the electronic settlement document based on the sum for the bank of first deposit.

14. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising:

determining if the designated bank of first deposit requires a hard copy of the return item for the return transaction;

selecting a printer location convenient to the designated bank of first deposit; and

sending the data for the item image of the return item to the selected printer location.

15. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the generating and sending an electronic settlement file steps only occur if the data structure for the electronic return notification file has a field completed indicating that data for an item image of the respective return item is attached.

16. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying errors in the electronic return file and obtaining correction of the identified errors.

17. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the obtaining correction step comprises notifying a payor bank to correct the errors;

and receiving from the payor bank a corrected electronic return item notification file.

18. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining if data of an item image of the return item is available electronically;

and

if not, then creating data for the item image of the return item.

19. The method as defined in claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

for a particular electronic return item notification file, selecting a printer location convenient to the designated bank of first deposit for the return item notification file;

sending the electronic data for the item image of the return item to the selected printer location.

20. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising storing data for an item image of a return item for each of a plurality of return transactions in an electronic archive.

21. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising

accessing via the reference key an electronically stored archive file that includes item image data of the return item;

and

altering data in the archive file to indicate a return transaction.

22. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing data for the item image of a return item for each of a plurality of return transactions on the Web.

23. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising sending web content to a web client at a remote site to display a link to data for an item image in an archive of the return item associated with the electronic return item notification file.

24. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein the sending web content step comprises sending the web content to a bank of first deposit.

25. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein the sending web content step comprises sending the web content to an individual remote depositor.

26. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein the displayed link comprises a configuration indicating the return reason.

27. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein the web content includes a user interface to receive input instructions for the payor bank.

28. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein at least one input instruction comprises an activation of an overdraft loan process.

29. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a re-presentment notice relating to the return item notification file from the bank of first deposit and including item image data of the return item or a reference to storage where the item image data for the return item may be accessed.

30. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the re-presentment notice is posted to a web site and a refresh electronic mail notice is sent to the payor bank

31. A system for processing electronic return notifications, comprising:

a first processor including a process for receiving from a plurality of payor bank processors, each associated with a different payor bank, different return item notification files, each of a plurality of the return notification files having a data structure that includes a field for a bank of first deposit and a field for a return reason, including a process for determining if the data in required fields in the return item notification file are populated and whether the data in selected fields are within appropriate ranges, including a communications process with the payor bank to be initiated if errors are discovered in the data in order to obtain corrected data, and including a process for identifying a central processor based on a criteria from among a plurality of central processors at different locations;

the identified central processor including a process for sorting multiple electronic return item notification files by designated bank of first deposit and sending each of a plurality of the electronic return notification files directly or indirectly to its respective designated bank of first deposit.

32. The system as defined in claim 31, wherein the criteria is one of a location of a bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification and a location of a printer that services the bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification.

33. The system as defined in claim 31, wherein the return file notification file includes data for an item image of the return item.

34. The system as defined in claim 31, wherein the return file notification file includes a reference key to access data for an item image of the return item in an archive.

35. A method for returning an item to a bank of first deposit, comprising:

obtaining access to data for the return item image and a reference key for the deposit transaction;

creating a return item notification file with a data structure that includes a designation of a bank of first deposit for the return item;

selecting a central processor based on a criteria related to the bank of first deposit;

sending the data for the return image and the reference key to the selected central processor for processing.

36. The method as defined in claim 35, wherein the obtaining access to data for the return item image comprises using the reference key to access and download data for the return item image of the return item from an archive.

37. The method as defined in claim 35, further comprising sending web content to a web client at the bank of first deposit to display a link to data for an item image in an archive of the return item associated with the electronic return item notification file.

38. The method as defined in claim 35, wherein the sending web content step comprises sending the web content to an individual remote depositor.

39. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the displayed link comprises a configuration indicating the return reason.

40. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the web content includes a user interface to receive input instructions for the payor bank.

41. The method as defined in claim 35, wherein the obtaining access to the data for the return item image comprises

determining if data of an item image of the return item is available electronically;

and

if not, then creating data for the item image of the return item.

42. The method as defined in claim 35, further comprising

accessing via the reference key an electronically stored archive file that includes data for the return item image of the return item;

and

altering data in the archive file to indicate a return transaction.

43. The method as defined in claim 35, further comprising the step of receiving a re-presentment notice relating to the return item notification file from the bank of first deposit that includes data for the return item image of the return item or a reference to storage where the data for the return item image for the return item may be accessed.

44. The method as defined in claim 35, wherein the obtaining access to the data for the return item image step comprises reducing a size of an image of a return item and adding routing history data around the periphery of the reduced size return item image.

45. The method as defined in claim 35, wherein the criteria is one of a location of a bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification file and a location of a printer that services the bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification file.

46. A program product for processing electronic return items, comprising machine-readable program code, which when executed, cause a machine to perform the following method:

receiving directly or indirectly from a plurality of different payor banks a plurality of different electronic return notification files, each electronic return notification file in the plurality for a different bank of first deposit, each electronic return notification file including a data structure with a designated bank of first deposit, an amount, and a reference key for the return item and a return reason;

sorting multiple electronic return notification files by designated bank of first deposit; and

sending each of a plurality of the electronic return notification files directly or indirectly to its respective designated bank of first deposit.

47. The program product as defined in claim 46, including code so that the receiving directly or indirectly from a plurality of different payor banks step receives from a first processor a plurality of different electronic return notification files from the plurality of different payor banks, the first processor determines if the data in required fields in individual return item notification files are populated and whether the data in selected fields are within appropriate ranges, and code for initiating a communication process with the payor bank for a return notification file if errors are discovered in the data in order to obtain corrected data.

48. The program product as defined in claim 47, wherein code is provided so that the first processor identifies the central processor to which to send the electronic return notification from among a plurality of central processors at different locations based on a criteria.

49. The program product as defined in claim 48, wherein code is provided so that the first processor performs the steps of:

sorting return notification files by central processor; and

batching electronic return notification files and sending the batched electronic return files to the selected central processor.

50. The program product as defined in claim 48, wherein the criteria is one of a location of a bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification file and a location of a printer that services the bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification file.

51. The program product as defined in claim 46, further comprising code for using the reference key to access an item image of the return item stored in an archive.

52. The program product as defined in claim 51, code to perform the steps:

generating an electronic settlement document for the one of the electronic return files;

sending the electronic settlement document directly or indirectly to the bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification file; and

causing the data of the image of the return item to be provided directly or indirectly to the bank of first deposit.

53. The program product as defined in claim 52, further comprising code for performing the method steps:

summing the amount in the return item notification files for a designated bank of first deposit to obtain a sum for the designated bank of first deposit; and

wherein the generating the electronic settlement document step comprises generating the electronic settlement document based on the sum for the designated bank of first deposit.

54. The program product as defined in claim 51, further comprising code for performing the method steps:

determining if the designated bank of first deposit requires a hard copy of the return item for a return transaction;

accessing the image data of the return item in the archive with the reference key;

selecting a printer location convenient to the designated bank of first deposit; and

sending the image data of the return item to the selected printer location.

55. The program product as defined in claim 51, further comprising code for performing the steps:

accessing the image data of the return item in the archive with the reference key; and

causing the image data of the return item to be sent to the designated bank of first deposit in the return item notification file.

56. The program product as defined in claim 46, further comprising code for receiving with one of the return item notification files data for an item image of a respective return item.

57. The program product as defined in claim 56, comprising code for performing the steps:

generating an electronic settlement document for the one of the electronic return files; and

sending the electronic settlement document directly or indirectly to the designated bank of first deposit with the reference key to the return item.

58. The program product as defined in claim 57, further comprising code for performing the steps:

summing the amounts in return item notification files for a designated bank of first deposit to obtain a sum for the bank of first deposit; and

wherein the generating the electronic settlement document step comprises generating the electronic settlement document based on the sum for the bank of first deposit.

59. The program product as defined in claim 56, further comprising code for performing the steps:

determining if the designated bank of first deposit requires a hard copy of the return item for the return transaction;

selecting a printer location convenient to the designated bank of first deposit; and

sending the data for the item image of the return item to the selected printer location.

60. The program product as defined in claim 53, further comprising code so that the generating and sending an electronic settlement file steps only occur if the data structure for the electronic return notification file has a field completed indicating that data for an item image of the respective return item is attached.

61. The program product as defined in claim 46, further comprising code for performing the step of identifying errors in the electronic return file and obtaining correction of the identified errors.

62. The program product as defined in claim 57, wherein the code for obtaining correction step comprises code for notifying a payor bank to correct the errors;

and receiving from the payor bank a corrected electronic return item notification file.

63. The program product as defined in claim 46, further comprising code for performing the step of determining if data of an item image of the return item is available electronically;

and

if not, then creating data for the item image of the return item.

64. The program product as defined in claim 63, further comprising code for performing the steps:

for a particular electronic return item notification file, selecting a printer location convenient to the designated bank of first deposit for the return item notification file;

sending the electronic data for the item image of the return item to the selected printer location.

65. The program product as defined in claim 46, further comprising code for storing data for an item image of a return item for each of a plurality of return transactions in an electronic archive.

66. The program product as defined in claim 46, further comprising code for performing the steps:

accessing via the reference key an electronically stored archive file that includes item image data of the return item; and

altering data in the archive file to indicate a return transaction.

67. The program product as defined in claim 46, further comprising code for performing the step of storing data for the item image of a return item for each of a plurality of return transactions on the Web.

68. The program product as defined in claim 46, further comprising code for performing the step of sending web content to a web client at a remote site to display a link to data for an item image in an archive of the return item associated with the electronic return item notification file.

69. The program product as defined in claim 68, wherein the sending web content step comprises sending the web content to a bank of first deposit.

70. The program product as defined in claim 68, wherein the sending web content step comprises sending the web content to an individual remote depositor.

71. The program product as defined in claim 68, wherein the displayed link comprises a configuration indicating the return reason.

72. The program product as defined in claim 68, wherein the web content includes a user interface to receive input instructions for the payor bank.

73. The program product as defined in claim 72, wherein at least one input instruction comprises an activation of an overdraft loan process.

74. The program product as defined in claim 46, further comprising the code for performing the step of receiving a re-presentment notice relating to the return item notification file from the bank of first deposit and including item image data of the return item or a reference to storage where the item image data for the return item may be accessed.

75. The program product as defined in claim 74, further comprising code to cause the re-presentment notice to be posted to a web site and a refresh electronic mail notice to be sent to the payor bank

76. A system for processing electronic return notifications, comprising:

a first processor including a process for receiving from a plurality of payor bank processors, each associated with a different payor bank, different return item notification files, each of a plurality of the return notification files having a data structure that includes a field for a bank of first deposit and a field for a return reason, including a process for determining if the data in required fields in the return item notification file are populated and whether the data in selected fields are within appropriate ranges, including a communications process with the payor bank to be initiated if errors are discovered in the data in order to obtain corrected data, and including a process for identifying a central processor based on a criteria from among a plurality of central processors at different locations;

the identified central processor including a process for sorting multiple electronic return item notification files by designated bank of first deposit and sending each of a plurality of the electronic return notification files directly or indirectly to its respective designated bank of first deposit.

77. The system as defined in claim 76, wherein the criteria is one of a location of a bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification and a location of a printer that services the bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification.

78. The system as defined in claim 76, wherein the return file notification file includes data for an item image of the return item.

79. The system as defined in claim 76, wherein the return file notification file includes a reference key to access data for an item image of the return item in an archive.

80. A program product for returning an item to a bank of first deposit, comprising machine-readable program code, which when executed, causes a machine to perform the following method:

obtaining access to data for the return item image and a reference key for the deposit transaction;

creating a return item notification file with a data structure that includes a designation of a bank of first deposit for the return item;

selecting a central processor based on a criteria related to the bank of first deposit;

sending the data for the return image and the reference key to the selected central processor for processing.

81. The program product as defined in claim 80, further comprising code so that the obtaining access to data for the return item image step uses the reference key to access and download data for the return item image of the return item from an archive.

82. The program product as defined in claim 80, further comprising code for sending web content to a web client at the bank of first deposit to display a link to data for an item image in an archive of the return item associated with the electronic return item notification file.

83. The program product as defined in claim 80, wherein the code for the sending web content step comprises code for sending the web content to an individual remote depositor.

84. The program product as defined in claim 82, wherein the displayed link comprises a configuration indicating the return reason.

85. The program product as defined in claim 82, wherein the web content includes a user interface to receive input instructions for the payor bank.

86. The program product as defined in claim 80, wherein the code for obtaining access to the data for the return item image comprises code for the steps

determining if data of an item image of the return item is available electronically;

and

if not, then creating data for the item image of the return item.

87. The program product as defined in claim 80, further comprising code for performing the steps

accessing via the reference key an electronically stored archive file that includes data for the return item image of the return item;

and

altering data in the archive file to indicate a return transaction.

88. The program product as defined in claim 80, further comprising code performing the step of receiving a re-presentment notice relating to the return item notification file from the bank of first deposit that includes data for the return item image of the return item or a reference to storage where the data for the return item image for the return item may be accessed.

89. The program product as defined in claim 80, wherein the code for obtaining access to the data for the return item image step comprises code for reducing a size of an image of a return item and adding routing history data around the periphery of the reduced size return item image.

90. The program product as defined in claim 80, wherein the criteria is one of a location of a bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification file and a location of a printer that services the bank of first deposit designated in the return item notification file