Method and system for communicating and matching electronic files for financial transactions

• US 20040228512A1
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (Federal Reserve System)
• Original Assignee: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (Federal Reserve System)
• Inventors: McPherson, Bruce Allen, Warren, Joel Edward, McCabe, Kevin Jude, Oursbourn, Danny Shawn, Costello, Thomas Vincent, Niemi, Marilee Jean, Guilbeau, Hugh Francis Jr., Moore, David James, Kumar, Gopa, Rasche, Cynthia Lynne, Beatse, Reed Avon, Becker, Jeremy Philip
• Granted Patent: US 6,990,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/137
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Communicating and matching electronic files for a check adjustment case comprises communicating an electronic check adjustment message comprising key data relating to the case, communicating an electronic image of a document to follow (“DTF”) related to the case, associating the key data with the electronic DTF image, determining whether the electronic message'"'"'s key data matches the key data associated with the electronic DTF image, and linking the electronic message to the electronic DTF image in response to a determination that the electronic message'"'"'s key data matches the key data associated with the electronic DTF image. If the DTF image'"'"'s key data does not match the message'"'"'s key data, matching electronic files can comprise correcting errors in the key data associated with the electronic DTF image and performing a secondary match routine. An operator accesses the electronic message and the linked DTF image to resolve the check adjustment case.

Claims

1. A system for communicating and matching electronic files for a check adjustment case, comprising:

a client computer operable for communicating an electronic check adjustment message comprising key data relating to the check adjustment case;

a check adjustment server operable for receiving the electronic check adjustment message and for storing a plurality of electronic check adjustment messages;

an image capturing device operable for capturing and communicating an electronic image of a document to follow (“

DTF”

) comprising the key data relating to the check adjustment case; and

a DTF archive operable for receiving the electronic DTF image and for storing a plurality of electronic DTF images and associated key data for each electronic DTF image,

wherein said check adjustment server is further operable for determining whether a stored electronic message'"'"'s key data matches a stored electronic DTF image'"'"'s key data, and for linking the respective electronic message to the respective electronic DTF image in response to a determination that the message'"'"'s key data matches the DTF image'"'"'s key data.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said check adjustment server is further operable for assigning a check adjustment case number to the received check adjustment message, and

wherein said check adjustment server links the respective electronic message to the respective electronic DTF image by associating the case number assigned to the electronic check adjustment message with the electronic DTF image.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image capturing device comprises a facsimile machine.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image capturing device comprises a scanner.

5. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a facsimile/OCR server,

wherein said image capturing device is operable for capturing and communicating an electronic image of a cover page which comprises the key data relating to the check adjustment case,

wherein said facsimile/OCR server is operable for receiving the electronic cover page image and the electronic DTF image;

creating, from the key data in the electronic cover page image, an electronic text file comprising the key data;

creating an electronic DTF image file comprising the DTF image; and

communicating the electronic text and DTF image files to said DTF archive, and

wherein said DTF archive is operable for storing the electronic DTF image by storing the electronic DTF image file, and for receiving the electronic text file, for parsing the key data from the electronic text file, and for associating the parsed key data with the respective DTF image file stored in said DTF archive.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the key data relating to the check adjustment case comprises a routing number of the agency requesting the check adjustment case, a check adjustment amount, an internal reference number assigned by the requesting agency, an investigation type, and a cash letter date.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein said Check adjustment server is further operable for correcting errors in the key data associated with an electronic DTF image and for performing a secondary match routine, in response to a determination that the DTF image'"'"'s key data does not match the message'"'"'s key data.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein said DTF archive is further operable for assigning a unique reference number to the stored DTF image, and

wherein said check adjustment server is further operable for associating the unique reference number with the stored check adjustment message linked to the stored DTF image.

9. A method for communicating and matching electronic files for a check adjustment case, comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic check adjustment message comprising key data relating to a check adjustment case;

receiving an electronic document to follow (“

DTF”

) comprising the key data relating to the check adjustment case;

determining whether the message'"'"'s key data matches the DTF'"'"'s key data; and

linking the message to the DTF in response to a determination that the message'"'"'s key data matches the DTF'"'"'s key data.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said step of receiving an electronic DTF comprises the steps of:

obtaining a cover page comprising the key data;

obtaining an image of the DTF; and

associating the key data from the cover page with the image of the DTF.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of receiving an electronic DTF further comprises the steps of:

creating an electronic text file comprising the key data from the facsimile image of the cover page; and

creating an electronic DTF image file comprising the image from the facsimile image of the DTF;

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of assigning a check adjustment case number to the message,

wherein said linking step comprises associating the message'"'"'s case number with the DTF.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of correcting errors in the DTF'"'"'s key data and performing a secondary match routine, in response to a determination that the DTF'"'"'s key data does not match the message'"'"'s key data.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein said step of communicating an electronic DTF comprises the steps of:

communicating a facsimile cover page comprising the key data;

communicating a facsimile image of the DTF;

creating an electronic text file comprising the key data from the cover page;

creating an electronic DTF image file comprising the image of the DTF; and

associating the text file and the image file.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said associating step comprises creating an index table that associates the key data from the text file with the DTF image file.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of accessing the linked message and DTF to resolve the check adjustment case.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the key data related to the check adjustment case comprises at least one data element selected from the group consisting of a routing number of the agency requesting the check adjustment case, a check adjustment amount, an internal reference number assigned by the requesting agency, an investigation type, and a cash letter date.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of assigning a unique reference number to the DTF image file,

wherein said linking step further comprises associating the DTF'"'"'s unique reference number with the message.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of accessing the DTF image file through the link provided by the DTF'"'"'s unique reference number.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 9.

21. A method for communicating and matching electronic files for a check adjustment case, comprising the steps of:

communicating an electronic check adjustment message comprising key data relating to a check adjustment case;

communicating a facsimile image of a cover page comprising the key data relating to the check adjustment case;

communicating a facsimile image of a document to follow (“

DTF”

) related to the check adjustment case;

creating an electronic text file comprising the key data from the facsimile image of the cover page;

creating an electronic DTF image file comprising the image from the facsimile image of the DTF;

associating the key data from the electronic text file with the electronic DTF image file;

determining whether the electronic message'"'"'s key data matches the key data associated with the electronic DTF image file; and

linking the electronic message to the electronic DTF image file in response to a determination that the electronic message'"'"'s key data matches the key data associated with the electronic DTF image file.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of assigning a check adjustment case number to the electronic message,

wherein said linking step comprises associating the electronic message'"'"'s assigned case number with the electronic DTF image file.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of correcting errors in the key data associated with the electronic DTF image file and performing a secondary match routine, in response to a determination that the key data associated with the electronic DTF image file does not match the electronic message'"'"'s key data.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein said associating step comprises creating an index table that associates the key data from the electronic text file with the electronic DTF image file.

25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of accessing the linked electronic message and electronic DTF image file to resolve the check adjustment case.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein the key data relating to the check adjustment case comprises a routing number of the agency requesting the check adjustment case, a check adjustment amount, an internal reference number assigned by the requesting agency, an investigation type, and a cash letter date.

27. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of assigning a unique reference number to the electronic DTF image file,

wherein said linking step comprises associating the assigned unique reference number with the electronic message.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of accessing the DTF image file through the link provided by the DTF'"'"'s unique reference number.

29. A method for communicating and matching electronic files for a transaction, comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic message comprising key data relating to a transaction;

receiving an electronic document comprising key data relating to the transaction;

determining whether the message'"'"'s key data matches the document'"'"'s key data; and

linking the message to the document in response to a determination that the message'"'"'s key data matches the document'"'"'s key data.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said step of receiving an electronic document comprises the steps of:

receiving a cover page comprising the key data;

receiving an image of the document; and

associating the key data from the cover page with the image of the document.

31. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of assigning a reference number to the message,

wherein said linking step comprises associating the message'"'"'s reference number with the document.

32. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the steps of correcting errors in the document'"'"'s key data and performing a secondary match routine, in response to a determination that the document'"'"'s key data does not match the message'"'"'s key data.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein said step of receiving an electronic document comprises the steps of:

obtaining a facsimile cover page comprising the key data;

obtaining a facsimile image of the document;

creating an electronic text file comprising the key data from the cover page;

creating an electronic document image file comprising the image of the document; and

associating the text file and the image file.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said associating step comprises creating an index table that associates the key data from the text file with the document image file.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of accessing the linked message and document to resolve the transaction.

36. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of assigning a unique reference number to the document image file,

wherein said linking step further comprises associating the document'"'"'s unique reference number with the message.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of accessing the document image file through the link provided by the document'"'"'s unique reference number.

38. The method according to claim 29, wherein the transaction comprises a check adjustment case.

39. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 29.

40. A system for matching electronic files for a check adjustment case, comprising:

a check adjustment server operable for receiving an electronic check adjustment message comprising key data relating to the check adjustment case and for storing a plurality of electronic check adjustment messages; and

a DTF archive operable for receiving an electronic document to follow (“

DTF”

) comprising the key data relating to the check adjustment case and for storing a plurality of electronic DTF images and associated key data for each electronic DTF image,

wherein said check adjustment server is further operable for determining whether a stored electronic message'"'"'s key data matches a stored electronic DTF image'"'"'s key data, and for linking the respective electronic message to the respective electronic DTF image in response to a determination that the message'"'"'s key data matches the DTF image'"'"'s key data.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein said check adjustment server is further operable for assigning a check adjustment case number to the received check adjustment message, and

wherein said check adjustment server links the respective electronic message to the respective electronic DTF image by associating the case number assigned to the electronic check adjustment message with the electronic DTF image.

42. The system according to claim 40, wherein the key data relating to the check adjustment case comprises a routing number of the agency requesting the check adjustment case, a check adjustment amount, an internal reference number assigned by the requesting agency, an investigation type, and a cash letter date.

43. The system according to claim 40, wherein said check adjustment server is further operable for correcting errors in the key data associated with an electronic DTF image and for performing a secondary match routine, in response to a determination that the DTF image'"'"'s key data does not match the message'"'"'s key data.

44. The system according to claim 40, wherein said DTF archive is further operable for assigning a unique reference number to the stored DTF image, and

wherein said check adjustment server is further operable for associating the unique reference number with the stored check adjustment message linked to the stored DTF image.

45. The system according to claim 40, wherein said DTF archive receives the electronic DTF image from a scanner.

46. The system according to claim 40, wherein said DTF archive receives the electronic DTF image from a facsimile machine.

47. The system according to claim 46, wherein said DTF archive is operable for receiving the electronic DTF image comprising the key data relating to the check adjustment case by being operable for receiving an electronic text file comprising the key data relating to the check adjustment case and an electronic DTF image file, for parsing the key data from the electronic text file, and for associating the parsed key data with the respective DTF image file.

48. A method for communicating and matching electronic files for a check adjustment case, comprising the steps of:

communicating an electronic check adjustment message comprising key data relating to a check adjustment case;

communicating an electronic image of a document to follow (“

DTF”

) comprising the key data relating to the check adjustment case;

determining whether the electronic message'"'"'s key data matches the electronic DTF image'"'"'s key data; and

linking the electronic message to the electronic DTF image in response to a determination that the electronic message'"'"'s key data matches the DTF image'"'"'s key data.

49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising the step of accessing the linked electronic message and electronic DTF image file to resolve the check adjustment case.

50. The method according to claim 48, wherein the key data relating to the check adjustment case comprises a routing number of the agency requesting the check adjustment case, a check adjustment amount, an internal reference number assigned by the requesting agency, an investigation type, and a cash letter date.

51. A method for improving the match rate of electronic files, comprising the steps of:

reading key data associated with a first electronic file;

reading key data associated with a second electronic file, the key data associated with the second electronic file being created through optical character recognition (“

OCR”

);

correcting the key data, comprising treating groups of characters in the key data as the same character; and

comparing the corrected key data associated with the first electronic file with the corrected key data associated with the second electronic file to determine if the key data of the electronic files matches.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the groups of characters treated as the same character comprise (a) 1, {, }, [, ], |, I, i, L, l, !;

(b) 2, Z, z;

(c) G, C, c;

(d) 0, O, o;

(e) B, 8; and

(f) S, s, $, 5.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein said correcting step further comprises removing characters other than letters and numbers from the key data.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein said correcting step further comprises removing spaces from the key data.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein said correcting step further comprises determining whether the key data associated with the first electronic file comprises a different field length than the key data associated with the second electronic file, and reducing the longer field to equal the shorter field in response to a determination that the key data associated with the first electronic file comprises a different field length than the key data associated with the second electronic file.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein said correcting step further comprises converting letters in the key data to a common case.

57. The method of claim 51, wherein said correcting step further comprises:

removing characters other than letters and numbers from the key data;

removing spaces from the key data;

determining whether the key data associated with the first electronic file comprises a different field length than the key data associated with the second electronic file, and reducing the longer field to equal the shorter field in response to a determination that the key data associated with the first electronic file comprises a different field length than the key data associated with the second electronic file; and

converting letters in the key data to a common case.