Electronic payment clearing and check image exchange systems and methods

• US 20050171899A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Clearing House Payments Company LLC (The Clearing House LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Clearing House Payments Company LLC (The Clearing House LLC)
• Inventors: Dunn, John P., Ledford, Stephen, Jackson, Steve H., Wood, Albert G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,725,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0425 the cheque being electronic only
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems

Abstract

A system and corresponding method are provided. The system includes a plurality of first entities (such as banks), each first entity communicatively connected to at least one distributed traffic agent (DTA), a second entity (such as a central facility) communicatively connected to a DTA, and a communication network communicatively connecting the DTAs. A payload containing a data file (such as electronic check presentment data, electronic payment data, or any other data type) is communicated from one first entity to another through their respective DTAs via the communication network. In addition, a transmittal containing control information corresponding to the payload is communicated from the one first entity to the second entity through their respective DTAs via the communication network.

Claims

1. A distributed traffic agent connected to a computer system of a host bank in an electronic check presentment (ECP) system in which ECP data are exchanged between the host bank and a plurality of other banks via a network, the distributed traffic agent comprising:

an input module configured to accept an outgoing ECP data file from the computer system of the host bank, the outgoing ECP data file containing ECP data destined for at least one destination bank;

an output module configured to accept an incoming ECP data file received from an originating bank, the incoming ECP data file containing ECP data,

a network address module configured to obtain a network address of the at least one destination bank; and

a network interface module configured to accept the outgoing ECP data file from the input module and transmit the outgoing ECP data file via the network and to receive the incoming ECP data file via the network and send the incoming ECP data file to the output module,

wherein the network interface module formats the outgoing ECP data file according to a protocol of the network and formats the incoming ECP data file according to a format of the host bank.

2. The distributed traffic agent of claim 1, wherein the network address module is configured to obtain the network address of the at least one destination bank based on a routing transit number of the destination bank.

3. The distributed traffic agent of claim 2, wherein the network address module is configured to obtain the network address of the at least one destination bank from the central facility via the network.

4. The distributed traffic agent of claim 1, wherein the network address module is configured to obtain a routing transit number of the originating bank based on a network address of the originating bank.

5. The distributed traffic agent of claim 4, wherein the network address module is configured to obtain the routing transit number of the originating bank from the central facility via the network.

6. The distributed traffic agent of claim 1, wherein the ECP data in the outgoing ECP data file comprises check image data.

7. The distributed traffic agent of claim 1, wherein the ECP data in the incoming ECP data file comprises check image data.

8. The distributed traffic agent of claim 1, wherein the ECP data comprises an electronic check letter that lists check information for checks drawn on the destination bank.

9. The distributed traffic agent of claim 1, further comprising an ECP data file processing module configured to divide the outgoing ECP data file into separate single-destination outgoing ECP data files according to respective destination banks, if the outgoing ECP data file contains ECP data destined for more than one destination bank.

10. The distributed traffic agent of claim 1, wherein the network interface module transmits control data via the network to a central facility, the control data being computed from the outgoing ECP data file.

11. The distributed traffic agent of claim 10, wherein the central facility reconciles the control data computed from the outgoing ECP data file with control data received from the originating bank.

43. The distributed traffic agent of claim 1, wherein the ECP data file comprises a payload, and the control data is included in a transmittal uniquely associated with the payload.

12. An electronic check presentment (ECP) system in which ECP data and check image data are exchanged between a host bank and a plurality of other banks via a network, the ECP system comprising:

a check processing device for processing paper checks, the check processing device being configured to sort the checks and generate ECP data that includes check image data;

a check processing computer system connected to accept the ECP data to generate outgoing ECP data files, each outgoing ECP data file having at least one destination bank; and

a distributed traffic agent (DTA) connected to accept the outgoing ECP data files from the check processing computer system and transmit the outgoing ECP data files via the network and to receive incoming ECP data files via the network for passing to the check processing computer system,

wherein the DTA is configured to format the outgoing ECP data files according to a protocol of the network and formats the incoming ECP data files according to a format of the check processing computer system.

13. The ECP system of claim 12, wherein the DTA is configured to obtain a network address from a central facility, via the network, of the at least one destination bank.

14. The ECP system of claim 12, wherein the DTA is configured to divide each of the outgoing ECP data files into a plurality of single destination outgoing ECP data files according to the respective destination banks, if the outgoing ECP data file contains ECP data destined for more than one destination bank.

44. The system of claim 12, wherein the ECP data file comprises a payload, and the control data is included in a transmittal uniquely associated with the payload.

15. A method for performing electronic check presentment (ECP) in which ECP data with check image data are exchanged between a host bank and a plurality of other banks via a network, the method comprising:

generating ECP data including check image data from paper checks;

generating outgoing ECP data files from the ECP data, each outgoing ECP data file having at least one destination bank;

obtaining network addresses for the destination banks;

formatting the outgoing ECP data files according to a protocol of the network using the network addresses; and

transmitting the outgoing ECP data files to the destination banks via the network.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving one of the outgoing ECP data files at a paying bank;

determining whether each item in the received ECP data file is to be posted or returned based at least in part on a posting deadline and sufficiency of funds;

generating an ECP disposition file containing the items to be returned, each item having an associated reason for return; and

transmitting the ECP disposition file to the host bank.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a first outgoing ECP data file contains a cash letter without check image data and a second outgoing ECP data file contains the cash letter of the first outgoing ECP data file together with check image data corresponding to the cash letter.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the network addresses are obtained from a central facility via the network

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising dividing each of the outgoing ECP data files into a plurality of single destination outgoing ECP data files, if the outgoing ECP data file contains ECP data destined for more than one destination bank.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising assigning a priority to the outgoing ECP data files, wherein the priority determines an order in which the outgoing ECP data files are processed at the respective destination banks.

45. The method of claim 15, wherein the ECP data file comprises a payload, and the control data is included in transmittal uniquely associated with the payload.

21. A method for distributing data from a computer system of a host bank in an electronic check presentment (ECP) system in which ECP data are exchanged between the host bank and a plurality of other banks via a network, the method comprising:

accepting an outgoing ECP data file from a computer system of the host bank, the outgoing ECP data file containing ECP data destined for at least one destination bank;

obtaining a network address of the at least one destination bank;

accepting, in a network interface module, the outgoing ECP data file and transmitting the outgoing ECP data file via the network;

receiving, in the network interface module, an incoming ECP data file from an originating bank via the network,

passing the incoming ECP data file to the computer system of the host bank, the incoming ECP data file containing ECP data,

wherein the network interface module formats the outgoing ECP data file according to a protocol of the network and formats the incoming ECP data file according to a format of the host bank.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the network address of the at least one destination bank is obtained based on a routing transit number of the destination bank.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the network address of the at least one destination bank is obtained from the central facility via the network.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising obtaining a routing transit number of the originating bank based on a network address of the originating bank.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the routing transit number of the originating bank is obtained from the central facility via the network.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the ECP data in the outgoing ECP data file comprises check image data.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the ECP data in the incoming ECP data file comprises check image data.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the ECP data comprises an electronic check letter that lists check information for checks drawn on the destination bank.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising dividing the outgoing ECP data file into separate single-destination outgoing ECP data files according to respective destination banks, if the outgoing ECP data file contains ECP data destined for more than one destination bank.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the network interface module transmits control data via the network to a central facility, the control data being computed from the outgoing ECP data file.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the central facility reconciles the control data computed from the outgoing ECP data file with control data received from the originating bank.

32. A method for distributing data from a computer system of a host bank in an electronic check presentment (ECP) system in which ECP data are exchanged between the host bank and a plurality of other banks via a network, the method comprising:

accepting an outgoing ECP data file from a computer system of the host bank, the outgoing ECP data file containing ECP data destined for at least one destination bank;

obtaining a network address of the at least one destination bank;

accepting, in a network interface module, the outgoing ECP data file and transmitting the outgoing ECP data file via the network;

receiving, in the network interface module, an incoming ECP data file from an originating bank via the network,

passing the incoming ECP data file to the computer system of the host bank, the incoming ECP data file containing ECP data,

wherein the network interface module formats the outgoing ECP data file according to a protocol of the network and formats the incoming ECP data file according to a format of the host bank.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the network address of the at least one destination bank is obtained based on a routing transit number of the destination bank.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the network address of the at least one destination bank is obtained from the central facility via the network.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising obtaining a routing transit number of the originating bank based on a network address of the originating bank.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the routing transit number of the originating bank is obtained from the central facility via the network.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the ECP data in the outgoing ECP data file comprises check image data.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the ECP data in the incoming ECP data file comprises check image data.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the ECP data comprises an electronic check letter that lists check information for checks drawn on the destination bank.

40. The method of claim 32, further comprising dividing the outgoing ECP data file into separate single-destination outgoing ECP data files according to respective destination banks, if the outgoing ECP data file contains ECP data destined for more than one destination bank.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein the network interface module transmits control data via the network to a central facility, the control data being computed from the outgoing ECP data file.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the central facility reconciles the control data computed from the outgoing ECP data file with control data received from the originating bank.

46. A distributed traffic agent connected to a computer system of a host bank in an electronic payment (EP) system in which EP data are exchanged between the host bank and a plurality of other banks via a network, the distributed traffic agent comprising:

an input module configured to accept an outgoing EP data file from the computer system of the host bank, the outgoing EP data file containing EP data destined for at least one destination bank;

an output module configured to accept an incoming EP data file received from an originating bank, the incoming EP data file containing EP data,

a network address module configured to obtain a network address of the at least one destination bank; and

a network interface module configured to accept the outgoing EP data file from the input module and transmit the outgoing EP data file via the network and to receive the incoming EP data file via the network and send the incoming EP data file to the output module,

wherein the network interface module formats the outgoing EP data file according to a protocol of the network and formats the incoming EP data file according to a format of the host bank.

52. The distributed traffic agent of claim 46, wherein the EP data file comprises a payload, and the control data is included in a transmittal uniquely associated with the payload.

47. An electronic payment (EP) system in which EP data and other associated data are exchanged between a host bank and a plurality of other banks via a network, the EP system comprising:

a electronic payment processing device for processing electronic payments, the electronic payment processing device being configured to sort the electronic payments and generate EP data that includes other associated data;

a electronic payment processing computer system connected to accept the EP data to generate outgoing EP data files, each outgoing EP data file having at least one destination bank; and

a distributed traffic agent (DTA) connected to accept the outgoing EP data files from the electronic payment processing computer system and transmit the outgoing EP data files via the network and to receive incoming EP data files via the network for passing to the electronic payment processing computer system,

wherein the DTA is configured to format the outgoing EP data files according to a protocol of the network and formats the incoming EP data files according to a format of the electronic payment processing computer system.

53. The system of claim 47, wherein the EP data file comprises a payload, and the control data is included in a transmittal uniquely associated with the payload.

48. A method for performing electronic payment (EP) in which EP data with other associated data are exchanged between a host bank and a plurality of other banks via a network, the method comprising:

generating EP data including other associated data from paper electronic payments;

generating outgoing EP data files from the EP data, each outgoing EP data file having at least one destination bank;

obtaining network addresses for the destination banks;

formatting the outgoing EP data files according to a protocol of the network using the network addresses; and

transmitting the outgoing EP data files to the destination banks via the network.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving one of the outgoing EP data files at a paying bank;

determining whether each item in the received EP data file is to be posted or returned based at least in part on a posting deadline and sufficiency of funds;

generating an EP disposition file containing the items to be returned, each item having an associated reason for return; and

transmitting the EP disposition file to the host bank.

54. The method of claim 48, wherein the EP data file comprises a payload, and the control data is included in a transmittal uniquely associated with the payload.

50. A method for distributing data from a computer system of a host bank in an electronic payment (EP) system in which EP data are exchanged between the host bank and a plurality of other banks via a network, the method comprising:

accepting an outgoing EP data file from a computer system of the host bank, the outgoing EP data file containing EP data destined for at least one destination bank;

obtaining a network address of the at least one destination bank;

accepting, in a network interface module, the outgoing EP data file and transmitting the outgoing EP data file via the network;

receiving, in the network interface module, an incoming EP data file from an originating bank via the network,

passing the incoming EP data file to the computer system of the host bank, the incoming EP data file containing EP data,

wherein the network interface module formats the outgoing EP data file according to a protocol of the network and formats the incoming EP data file according to a format of the host bank.

51. A method for distributing data from a computer system of a host bank in an electronic payment (EP) system in which EP data are exchanged between the host bank and a plurality of other banks via a network, the method comprising:

accepting an outgoing EP data file from a computer system of the host bank, the outgoing EP data file containing EP data destined for at least one destination bank;

obtaining a network address of the at least one destination bank;

accepting, in a network interface module, the outgoing EP data file and transmitting the outgoing EP data file via the network;

receiving, in the network interface module, an incoming EP data file from an originating bank via the network,

passing the incoming EP data file-to the computer system of the host bank, the incoming EP data file containing EP data,

wherein the network interface module formats the outgoing EP data file according to a protocol of the network and formats the incoming EP data file according to a format of the host bank.

55. A system comprising:

a plurality of first entities, each first entity communicatively connected to at least one distributed traffic agent (DTA);

a second entity communicatively connected to a DTA; and

a first communication network communicatively connecting the DTAs,

wherein a payload containing a data file is communicated from one of said plurality of first entities to another of said plurality of first entities through their respective DTAs via said first communication network, and wherein a transmittal containing control information corresponding to the payload is communicated from said one first entity to said second entity through their respective DTAs via said first communication network.

56. A system according to claim 55, wherein the data file comprises electronic check presentment data or electronic payment data.

57. A system according to claim 55, wherein the transmittal is also communicated from said one first entity to said another first entity through their respective DTAs via said first communication network.

58. A system according to claim 55, wherein processing notification messages are communicated among said one and another first entities and said second entity through their respective DTAs via said first communication network.

59. A system according to claim 55, wherein said first entities are banks, and said second entity is a central facility.

60. A system according to claim 55, wherein said second entity has a web view server, and said one and another first entities have web view clients, the web view server and web view clients communicatively connected via a second communication network.

61. A system according to claim 60, wherein said first communication network is a private communication network, and said second communication network is the Internet.

62. A method comprising the steps of:

communicating a payload containing a data file and transmittal containing control information corresponding to the payload from a first entity to a first distributed traffic agent (DTA) communicatively connected to the first entity;

through a network, communicating the transmittal from the first DTA to a central DTA communicatively connected to a central entity; and

through the network, communicating the payload from the first DTA to a second DTA communicatively connected to a second entity.

63. A method according to claim 62, further comprising the step of communicating the payload from the second DTA to the second entity.

64. A method according to claim 62, further comprising the step of communicating the transmittal from the first DTA to second DTA through the network.

65. A method according to claim 64, further comprising the step of communicating the transmittal from the second DTA to the second entity.

66. A method according to claim 62, further comprising the step of communicating the transmittal from the central DTA to the central entity.

67. A method according to claim 62, wherein the data file comprises electronic check presentment data or electronic payment data.