Systems and methods for routing requests for reconcilement information
First Claim
1. A method of accessing a positive pay file associated with a check, the method comprising:
- receiving at a check authentication system information about a check, wherein the information identifies a check account on which the check is drawn;
using the check account identification information to locate an associated record in a routing table, wherein the routing table stores routing information for positive pay files; and
using the routing information to access a positive pay file associated with the check.
3 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 in association with a request to cash, deposit, use as payment or other otherwise accept the check or negotiable instrument. In various embodiments, positive pay information provides a list of issued checks that a check-issuer authorizes for payment from the check-issuer'"'"'s check account. The use of positive pay information may thus reduce the acceptance of fraudulent checks. In various embodiments, a check authentication system provides access to desired positive pay or other reconcilement information using one or more routing tables that allow the check authentication system to efficiently and accurately locate desired positive pay information, which may be stored internally or externally to the check authentication system.
-
Citations
49 Claims
-
1. A method of accessing a positive pay file associated with a check, the method comprising:
-
receiving at a check authentication system information about a check, wherein the information identifies a check account on which the check is drawn;
using the check account identification information to locate an associated record in a routing table, wherein the routing table stores routing information for positive pay files; and
using the routing information to access a positive pay file associated with the check. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of accessing a file comprising reconcilement information associated with a negotiable instrument, the method comprising:
-
receiving information about a negotiable instrument presented for acceptance;
using the information about the negotiable instrument to locate an associated record in a first portion of computer-accessible storage medium, wherein the first portion of computer-accessible storage medium stores routing information for accessing reconcilement information files available from a plurality of information sources; and
using the routing information to access a reconcilement information file associated with the negotiable instrument. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
- 21. A computer-accessible storage medium, comprising records of information about accounts from a plurality of financial institutions, wherein a record comprises identification information for an account from which negotiable instruments are issued and routing information for locating positive pay data associated with the account.
-
25. A computer-accessible storage medium comprising a plurality of records, wherein a record comprises information about a category of negotiable instruments to which a negotiable instrument may belong and routing information for locating reconcilement data associated with the category of negotiable instruments.
-
26. A check authentication system, comprising:
-
a data interface configured to receive information about a check issued from a check account and presented for processing;
a routing table comprising records, wherein a record comprises an identifier for an account from which checks are issued and routing information for locating a repository of positive pay information associated with checks issued from the account; and
a processor configured to access the information received by the data interface and to use the information to obtain an identifier for the check account from which the check is issued, the processor further configured to use the identifier to access a record in the routing table that is associated with the check account and to access the routing information in the record. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
-
29. A method for accessing a positive pay file associated with a check, the method comprising:
-
receiving at a check-cashing entity information about a check presented for cashing;
transmitting the information to a check authentication system;
using the information to obtain an identifier for an account associated with the check;
using the identifier to access a record in a repository of routing information, wherein the record comprises routing information for locating a positive pay file associated with the check; and
using the routing information to access the positive file. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
-
-
32. A system for authenticating a negotiable instrument, comprising:
-
at least two reconcilement information sources that are configured to store reconcilement information about negotiable instruments, wherein the reconcilement information is indicative of whether issuers of the negotiable instruments are willing to honor the negotiable instruments;
a check authentication system that comprises at least one routing table for directing at least one query for reconcilement information to at least one of said reconcilement information sources, the check authentication system further comprising a data interface configured to accept an authentication request for a negotiable instrument, the data interface further configured to transmit an authentication status result based at least in part on a response associated with said query; and
a check-cashing entity comprising at least one data input device configured to accept data about a negotiable instrument presented for processing, the check-cashing entity further comprising a communication system for transmitting an authentication request for the negotiable instrument to the check authentication system and for receiving from the check authentication system the authentication status result.
-
-
33. A point-of-sale device, comprising:
-
an input system configured to obtain information about a check presented for acceptance, wherein the information comprises a check type associated with the check;
a communications system configured to transmit the information from the input system to a remote location, the communications system further configured to receive data indicative of an authentication performed for the check that is based at least in part on positive pay information obtained regarding the check; and
a display for displaying to an operator of the point-of-sale device a message based at least in part on the data.
-
-
34. A method for determining whether to accept a check, the method comprising:
-
obtaining at a check-cashing entity data about a check presented for cashing, wherein the check-cashing entity is not a bank holding a checking account on which the check is drawn;
transmitting at least some of the data to a remote computer system with a routing table for locating positive pay information about the check;
receiving information about the check, wherein the information is based at least in part on positive pay information about the check, and wherein the positive pay information is obtained based at least in part on the transmitted data; and
determining whether to accept the check based at least in part on the received information. - View Dependent Claims (35)
-
-
36. A system for accessing a file comprising reconcilement information associated with a negotiable instrument, the system comprising:
-
means for receiving information about a negotiable instrument presented for acceptance to a check-cashing entity;
means for using the information about the negotiable instrument to locate an associated record in a first portion of computer-accessible storage medium, wherein the first portion of computer-accessible storage medium stores routing information for accessing reconcilement information files available from a plurality of information sources; and
means for using the routing information to access a reconcilement information file associated with the negotiable instrument. - View Dependent Claims (37)
-
-
38. A method of assisting in the execution of a risk assessment for a check, the method comprising:
-
compiling data about checks that a given check issuer has issued; and
making the data available to a check cashing entity for use in an authentication of a check that is claimed to have been issued by the check issuer. - View Dependent Claims (39)
-
- 40. A source of reconcilement information about a plurality of negotiable instruments that is configured to store data indicative of whether an issuer of the negotiable instruments is willing to honor the negotiable instruments, wherein the source of reconcilement information is further configured to provide routing information to a third party that enables the third party to access the data for authenticating a negotiable instrument.
-
43. A method for providing an authentication of a check, the method comprising:
-
receiving a request for authentication of a check;
accessing stored data about authentication information sources; and
forwarding the request to a plurality of authentication information sources. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
-
- 46. A positive pay information source configured to transmit routing information to a check authentication system for storing in a routing table and for using to direct positive pay information requests received by the check authentication system to the positive pay information source.
Specification