Distributed matching of consumers with billers having bills available for electronic presentment
First Claim
1. A method for identifying electronic billers whose bills are available for electronic presentment to a consumer, comprising:
- transmitting, via a network and from a first of a plurality of network stations to a second of the plurality of network stations, a first signal representing a request to identify electronic billers of a consumer, the request including information identifying the consumer and excluding information identifying any biller of the consumer, the first network station being associated with the consumer and the second network station being associated with an electronic billing service provider;
transmitting, via the network and from the second network station to a third of the plurality of network stations associated with one of a plurality of electronic billers, a second signal representing the information identifying the consumer, the second signal transmitted responsive to the transmitted first signal; and
transmitting, via the network and from the third network station to the first network station, a third signal representing a confirmation of the availability of electronic presentment of bills of the one electronic biller for the consumer, the third signal transmitted responsive to a determination that the consumer is a customer of the one electronic biller based upon the transmitted second signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for identifying a consumer'"'"'s electronic billers in which the consumer does not identify billers is provided. The consumer transmits, from a consumer network station, a request for an electronic billing service provider to identify his or her electronic billers. This request includes information identifying the consumer, but excludes any information identifying any biller. Upon receipt of the request the service provider transmits, from a service provider network station, information identifying the consumer to an electronic biller. The electronic biller, after receiving the information identifying the consumer, determines that the consumer is a customer of the electronic biller. The electronic biller then transmits, from an electronic biller network station, information indicating that the consumer can electronically receive bills of the electronic biller. This information is transmitted to the consumer network station.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for identifying electronic billers whose bills are available for electronic presentment to a consumer, comprising:
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transmitting, via a network and from a first of a plurality of network stations to a second of the plurality of network stations, a first signal representing a request to identify electronic billers of a consumer, the request including information identifying the consumer and excluding information identifying any biller of the consumer, the first network station being associated with the consumer and the second network station being associated with an electronic billing service provider;
transmitting, via the network and from the second network station to a third of the plurality of network stations associated with one of a plurality of electronic billers, a second signal representing the information identifying the consumer, the second signal transmitted responsive to the transmitted first signal; and
transmitting, via the network and from the third network station to the first network station, a third signal representing a confirmation of the availability of electronic presentment of bills of the one electronic biller for the consumer, the third signal transmitted responsive to a determination that the consumer is a customer of the one electronic biller based upon the transmitted second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for identifying electronic billers whose bills are available for electronic presentment to the consumer, comprising:
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a network configured to transmit information;
a first network station associated with a consumer configured to transmit, via the network, a request to identify electronic billers of the consumer, the request including information identifying the consumer and excluding information identifying any biller of the consumer;
a second network station associated with an electronic billing service provider configured to receive the transmitted request and to further transmit the consumer identifying information; and
a third network station associated with one of a plurality of electronic billers configured to receive the further transmitted consumer identifying information, to determine that the consumer is a customer of the one electronic biller, and to transmit, via the network and to the first network station, a confirmation of the availability of electronic presentment of bills of the one electronic biller for the consumer, the confirmation transmitted responsive to the determination. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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11. A system for identifying electronic billers whose bills are available for electronic presentment to the consumer, comprising:
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a network configured to transmit information;
a first network station associated with a consumer configured to transmit, via the network, a request to identify electronic billers of the consumer, the request including information identifying the consumer and excluding information identifying any biller of the consumer;
a second network station associated with an electronic billing service provider configured to receive the transmitted request and to further transmit the consumer identifying information; and
a third network station associated with one of a plurality of electronic billers configured to receive the further transmitted consumer identifying information, to determine that the consumer is a customer of the one electronic biller, and to transmit, via the network and to the first network station, a confirmation of the availability of electronic presentment of bills of the one electronic biller for the consumer, the confirmation transmitted responsive to the determination. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification