Mobile collection application

• US 20040203668A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Carroll, Jay William, Bowne, Jeffrey C., Milack, Joseph A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/12 Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]

Abstract

A mobile collection application is disclosed that is capable of providing collection data to a field agent on a wireless pocket PC. A collection case inventory module is used to generate a list of collection cases on the wireless pocket PC. The field agent may view a detailed report of collection cases that are contained in the list of collection cases. A payment plan component is also provided that allows the field agent to work out a payment plan with the debtor. The mobile collection application is also capable of allowing field agents to register transient taxpayers for the purpose of collecting sales and use taxes.

Claims

1. A method of providing collection data to a field agent, comprising the steps of:

logging a wireless pocket personal computer associated with the field agent into a mobile collection application;

retrieving a list of collection cases from a collection data center server with the mobile collection application;

displaying the list of collection cases on the wireless pocket personal computer;

selecting a collection case entry in the list of collection cases; and

generating a detailed collection case report based on the selected collection case entry.

2. The method of claim 1, where the mobile collection application authenticates the field agent for obtaining access to a collection database located on the collection data center server.

3. The method of claim 1, where the collection case list is tailored specifically for the field agent based on a personal task list associated with the field agent.

4. The method of claim 1, where the collection case list is tailored specifically for the field agent based on a personal calendar associated with the field agent.

5. The method of claim 1, where the detailed collection case report includes a collection case balance.

6. The method of claim 5, where the detailed collection case report includes a link to a payment plan component.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of selecting the link to the payment plan component.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of creating a payment plan for the collection case balance with the payment plan component.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of submitting the payment plan for approval to the collection data center server.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of updating a collection database located on the collection data center server as a function of the payment plan.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of printing a receipt that includes a summary of the payment plan with a printer connected with the wireless pocket personal computer.

12. A mobile collection system, comprising:

a collection data center server including a collection database connected with a wireless access network;

a wireless pocket personal computer connected with the collection data center server through the wireless access network;

an authentication module for logging a field agent into a mobile collection application located on the wireless pocket personal computer;

a collection case inventory module located on the wireless pocket personal computer for retrieving a list of collection cases from the collection data center server; and

a collection case detail component for generating a detailed collection case report as a function of a selection of a collection case entry contained in the list of collection cases.

13. The mobile collection system of claim 12, further comprising a payment plan component for setting up a payment plan for a collection case balance associated with the selected collection case entry.

14. The mobile collection system of claim 13, where the payment plan component transmits the payment plan to the collection data center server to obtain a payment plan approval.

15. The mobile collection system of claim 14, where the collection data center server updates a case record associated with the selected collection case entry in a collection database as a function of the payment plan.

16. The mobile collection system of claim 12, where the list of collection cases is generated as a function of an identity associated with the field agent.

17. The mobile collection system of claim 12, where the list of collection cases is generated as a function of a personal task list associated with the field agent.

18. The mobile collection system of claim 12, where the list of collection cases is generated as a function of a personal calendar associated with the field agent.

19. The mobile collection system of claim 12, further comprising a collection case search component for searching a collection database located on the collection data center server for at least one collection case.

20. The mobile collection system of claim 19, where the collection case search component includes at least one search field selected from a group of search fields including a name search field, an identification number search field, a phone number search field, a city search field and a zip code search field.

21. The mobile collection system of claim 12, where the collection case detail component is operable to allow the field agent to modify a data field contained in the detailed collection case report.

22. The mobile collection system of claim 21, further comprising a synchronization component for synchronizing a collection case file associated with the selected collection case entry based on the modification made to the data field.

23. A computer program product for use with a wireless pocket personal computer connected with a collection data center server, comprising:

computer readable program code for generating a collection case search graphical user interface on a display of the wireless pocket personal computer, where the collection case search graphical user interface includes at least one search entry field;

computer readable program code for receiving at least one input parameter from the search entry field of the collection case search graphical user interface;

computer readable program code for transmitting a search request based on the at least one input parameter to the collection data center server;

computer readable program code located on the collection data center server for generating a response to the search request from the wireless pocket personal computer and transmitting the response to the wireless pocket personal computer; and

computer readable program code for displaying the response on the display of the wireless pocket personal computer.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising computer readable program code for logging a field agent into a mobile collection application located on the wireless pocket personal computer.

25. The computer program product of claim 23, where the response is displayed in a search results field of the collection case search graphical user interface.

26. The computer program product of claim 23, where the response includes at least one collection case.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising computer readable program code for generating a detailed collection case report as a function of a selection of at least one collection case contained in the response.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, further comprising computer readable program code for creating a payment plan for a collection balance contained in the detailed collection case report.

29. A mobile collection application for a wireless pocket personal computer, comprising:

means for authenticating a field agent to access the mobile collection application;

means for retrieving a collection case inventory list that includes at least one collection case entry from a collection data center server connected with the wireless pocket personal computer; and

means for retrieving a detailed collection case report by selecting a respective entry in the collection case inventory list.

30. The mobile collection application of claim 29, where the collection case inventory list is tailored specifically for the field agent.

31. The mobile collection application of claim 29, further comprising means for setting up a payment plan for a collection balance contained in the detailed collection case report.

32. The mobile collection application of claim 31, further comprising means for printing a payment plan receipt.

33. A mobile collection application for a wireless pocket personal computer, comprising:

means for authenticating a field agent to access the mobile collection application located on the wireless pocket personal computer;

means for allowing the field agent to search a collection database located on a collection data center server for a respective collection case using the wireless pocket personal computer; and

means for retrieving a detailed collection case report once the field agent locates a predetermined collection case contained in the collection database.

34. The mobile collection application of claim 33, further comprising means for setting up a payment plan for a collection balance contained in the detailed collection case report.

35. The mobile collection application of claim 34, further comprising means for printing a payment plan receipt.

36. A method of collecting taxes with a wireless pocket personal computer being used by a field agent during a field interview, comprising the steps of:

generating a taxpayer registration form on a display of the wireless pocket personal computer;

entering taxpayer registration information in the taxpayer registration form using the wireless pocket personal computer;

generating a tax calculation form on the display of the wireless pocket personal computer;

entering sales tax information in the tax calculation form using the wireless pocket personal computer; and

calculating a total tax amount due based on the tax information entered in the tax calculation form.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of storing the taxpayer information and the total tax amount due in a collection database on the wireless pocket personal computer.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of synchronizing the taxpayer information and the total tax amount due with a second collection database located on a collection data server connected with the wireless pocket personal computer through a wireless access network.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of creating a taxpayer file in a collection database located on a collection data center server connected with the wireless pocket personal computer based on the taxpayer information and the total tax amount due.

40. The method of claim 36, where the tax calculation form comprises a sales tax calculation form including a plurality of data entry fields that may be selected from a group of data entry fields including a total sales data entry field, a taxable sales data entry field, a taxable purchases data entry field and a tax rate data entry field.

41. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of generating a total amount of tax due display field on the wireless pocket personal computer based on the total tax amount due.

42. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of generating a verification form on the display of the wireless pocket personal computer that includes an itemized index field that summarizes the field interview.

43. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of presenting a payment processing graphical user interface on the display of the wireless pocket personal computer.

44. The method of claim 43, where the payment processing graphical user interface allows a taxpayer to pay for the total tax amount due using at least one payment option.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising the step of printing a receipt with a printer connected with the wireless pocket personal computer.

46. A mobile tax collection system for a wireless pocket personal computer connected with a wireless access network, comprising:

a mobile registration module for generating a mobile registration graphical user interface on a display of the wireless pocket personal computer that includes a plurality of taxpayer data entry fields;

a tax information module for generating a tax information graphical user interface on the display of the wireless pocket personal computer that includes at least one tax information entry field;

a tax calculation module for calculating a total amount of tax due that is displayed on the display of the wireless pocket personal computer;

a synchronization module for updating a collections database located on a collection data center server connected with the wireless access network.

47. The mobile tax collection system of claim 46, where the tax information entry field may be selected from a group of tax information entry fields including a total sales data entry field, a taxable sales data entry field, a taxable purchases data entry field and a tax rate data entry field.

48. The mobile tax collection system of claim 46, further comprising a verification component for generating a verification graphical user interface on the display of the wireless pocket personal computer that includes a tax verification display field.

49. The mobile tax collection system of claim 46, further comprising a payment processing component for generating a payment processing graphical user interface on the display of the wireless pocket personal computer.

50. The mobile tax collection system of claim 46, further comprising a payment plan component for generating a payment plan for the total amount of tax due that is displayed on the display of the wireless pocket personal computer.

51. A computer program product for use with a wireless pocket personal computer connected with a collection data center server via a wireless access network, comprising:

computer readable program code for receiving a plurality of taxpayer registration information data entries about a taxpayer;

computer readable program code for receiving a plurality of tax information data entries from the taxpayer;

computer readable program code for calculating a total tax amount due as a function of the tax information data entries; and

computer readable program code for displaying the total tax amount due on a display of the wireless pocket personal computer.

52. The computer program product of claim 51, further comprising computer readable program code for generating a payment processing component on the wireless pocket personal computer.

53. The computer program product of claim 52, further comprising computer readable program code for printing a receipt on a printer connected with the wireless pocket personal computer.

54. The computer program product of claim 51, further comprising computer readable program code for creating a taxpayer information file that is stored in a collection database of the collection data center server including the taxpayer registration information data entries, the tax information data entries and the total tax amount due.

55. A mobile tax collection application for a wireless pocket personal computer, comprising:

means for generating a taxpayer collection registration form on the wireless pocket personal computer;

means for entering taxpayer information in the taxpayer collection registration form using the wireless pocket personal computer;

means for generating a tax information entry form on the wireless pocket personal computer;

means for entering tax information in the sales tax information entry form using the wireless pocket personal computer; and

means for calculating a total tax amount due as a function of the tax information entered in the tax information entry form.

56. The mobile tax collection application of claim 55, further comprising means for updating a collection database on a data collection center server connected with the wireless pocket personal computer.

57. The mobile tax collection application of claim 55, further comprising means for paying for the total tax amount due using the wireless pocket personal computer.

58. The mobile tax collection application of claim 55, further comprising means for displaying a tax assessment summary on the wireless pocket personal computer.

59. A method for a field agent to collect tax liabilities from a debtor with a wireless pocket PC, comprising the steps of:

generating a detailed report of a collection case for the debtor;

reviewing the detailed report with the debtor;

creating a payment plan with the debtor; and

validating the payment plan with the debtor.

60. A method for registering a vendor with a collection agency using a wireless pocket PC, comprising the steps of:

determining if the vendor is registered to do business in a respective geographic area;

entering contact information for the vendor if the vendor is not registered; and

presenting the entered contact information to the vendor for validation; and

validating the entered contact information.

61. A method for a field agent to review liabilities associated with a debtor using a wireless pocket PC, comprising the steps of:

entering search criteria in a search component;

generating a search result including at least one listing;

selecting a respective listing in the search result; and

generating a detailed report as a function of the selected listing.