Systems and methods for accessing reconcilement information
First Claim
1. A process for determining whether to access additional positive pay information in association with a proposed check-cashing transaction, the process comprising:
- receiving a request from a check-cashing entity for positive pay status information for a check presented in association with a proposed check-cashing transaction;
identifying at least one source of positive pay information;
accessing positive pay information from at least said one of said positive pay information sources;
storing the accessed positive pay information;
accessing additional information about at least one of the set consisting of;
characteristics of the proposed check-cashing transaction, characteristics of the identified positive pay information sources, and preferences of the check-cashing entity; and
determining whether to access additional positive pay information, based at least in part on at least one of the set consisting of;
the accessed positive pay information and the accessed additional information.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for assisting a check-cashing entity to efficiently and accurately locate relevant positive pay information or other reconcilement information regarding a check or other negotiable instrument that has been presented to a check-cashing entity in association with a request to cash, deposit, use as payment or other otherwise accept the check or negotiable instrument. In various embodiments, when a plurality of potentially useful sources of reconcilement information are identified for querying in association with a proposed check-cashing transaction, a decision regarding how many of the sources to query and/or how long to continue to query may be based at least in part on factors relating to the transaction, factors relating to characteristics of the information sources, and factors relating to preferences on the part of the check-cashing entity.
43 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A process for determining whether to access additional positive pay information in association with a proposed check-cashing transaction, the process comprising:
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receiving a request from a check-cashing entity for positive pay status information for a check presented in association with a proposed check-cashing transaction;
identifying at least one source of positive pay information;
accessing positive pay information from at least said one of said positive pay information sources;
storing the accessed positive pay information;
accessing additional information about at least one of the set consisting of;
characteristics of the proposed check-cashing transaction, characteristics of the identified positive pay information sources, and preferences of the check-cashing entity; and
determining whether to access additional positive pay information, based at least in part on at least one of the set consisting of;
the accessed positive pay information and the accessed additional information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A check authentication system, comprising:
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a data interface configured to receive a request from a check-cashing entity for positive pay authentication in association with a proposed check-cashing transaction, wherein the request comprises information about characteristics of the proposed check-cashing transaction;
a computer-accessible storage medium configured to store additional information about characteristics of one or more positive pay information sources and information about preferences expressed by the check-cashing entity; and
a processor configured to query at least one positive pay information source for positive pay information associated with the proposed check-cashing transaction, the processor further configured to determine thereafter whether to query at least one additional positive pay information source, based at least in part on at least one of the set consisting of;
the information about characteristics of the proposed check-cashing transaction, at least one positive pay authentication status report received in response to a query, and the stored additional information.
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11. A check authentication system, comprising:
a processor configured to query at least one source for reconcilement information associated with a proposed financial transaction, the processor further configured to determine whether to query additional sources based at least in part on at least one of the set consisting of;
information about the proposed financial transaction, information about available sources, and information about preferences on the part of a check-cashing entity associated with the proposed financial transaction.
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12. A method of providing an authentication status result for a negotiable instrument, comprising:
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querying a source of reconcilement information for authentication information about a negotiable instrument;
determining in a programmed processor whether additional reconcilement information is desirable for assessing an authentication status result for the negotiable instrument;
continuing to query at least one additional source of reconcilement information as long as additional reconcilement information is desirable;
assessing in a programmed processor an authentication status result for the negotiable instrument, based at least in part on the authentication information; and
providing the authentication status result to a party requesting the authentication status result. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A point-of-sale device comprising:
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an input system configured to obtain information associated with a proposed check-cashing transaction, wherein the input system is located at a check-cashing entity;
a communications system in communication with the input system, wherein the communications system is configured to transmit at least some of the information obtained by the input system to a remote system in association with a request for the remote system to access positive pay information associated with the proposed transaction and for the purpose of enabling the remote system to determine whether to access at least one additional positive pay information source after accessing at least one positive pay information source. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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- 16. A method of assisting in positive pay authentications comprising sending data to a check authentication system for the purpose of enabling the check authentication system to determine whether to continue querying positive pay information sources in search of positive pay information associated with a proposed check-cashing transaction.
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19. A process for reducing risk associated with accepting a check offered at a check-cashing transaction, the process comprising the acts of:
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entering into an agreement with a check authentication system in which the check authentication system agrees to perform positive pay check authentications;
informing the check authentication system of preferences associated with positive pay check authentications;
transmitting information associated with a positive pay authentication request for a proposed check-cashing transaction to the check authentication system;
receiving from the check authentication system data indicative of a positive pay authentication result, wherein the positive pay authentication result is based at least in part on information obtained from at least one positive pay information source selected based at least in part on the transmitted information associated with the proposed check-cashing transaction and on the preferences associated with positive pay authentications; and
determining whether to accept the check offered at the proposed check-cashing transaction, based at least in part on the positive pay authentication result.
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20. A check-cashing entity configured to transmit to a check authentication system information associated with a proposed check-cashing transaction, the check-cashing entity further configured to transmit preferences regarding positive pay authentications to be carried out by the check authentication system, wherein the information and the preferences enable the check authentication system to determine, after querying at least one source of positive pay information, whether to query at least one additional source of positive pay information.
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21. A method for obtaining positive pay information associated with a proposed check-cashing transaction, the method comprising:
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providing a check authentication system with information about preferences regarding positive pay information searches performed by the check authentication system, wherein the provided information enables the check authentication system to determine whether to continue querying positive pay information sources in searches for positive pay information that are associated with proposed check-cashing transactions;
transmitting a request to the check authentication system for positive pay information associated with a proposed check-cashing transaction, wherein the transmitted request triggers the check authentication system to query a positive pay information source for positive pay information associated with the proposed check-cashing transaction and wherein the transmitted request thereafter triggers a determination about whether to continue querying positive pay information sources in a search for positive pay information associated with the proposed check-cashing transaction; and
obtaining from the check authentication system positive pay information associated with the proposed check-cashing transaction.
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- 22. A positive pay information source that provides to a check authentication system information useful for assisting the authentication system in a determining whether to continue querying positive pay information sources in association with a positive pay authentication of a check.
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24. A reconcilement information source, comprising:
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a computer-accessible storage medium configured to store reconcilement information abut negotiable instruments; and
a communications system configured to transmit data about the reconcilement information source to a remote system that conducts searches for reconcilement information, wherein the communications system transmits the data to assist the remote system to determine whether to continue querying reconcilement information sources in a search for reconcilement information. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A process for participating in a positive pay authentication, comprising:
providing data to a remote system about a positive pay information source to assist the remote system to determine whether to continue a search for positive pay information in association with a request for positive pay authentication. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A system for determining whether to continue a search for positive pay information, comprising:
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means for receiving a request from a check-cashing entity for positive pay status information for a check presented in association with a proposed check-cashing transaction;
means for identifying at least one source of positive pay information;
means for accessing positive pay information from at least one of the identified sources;
means for accessing additional information about at least one of the set consisting of;
characteristics of the proposed check-cashing transaction, characteristics of the identified positive pay information sources, and preferences of the check-cashing entity; and
means for determining whether to access additional positive pay information, based at least in part on at least one of the set consisting of;
the accessed positive pay information and the accessed additional information.
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Specification