System for maintaining communication point data

• US 20050185774A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Melanson, Patrica L., Grear, Michael B., Donlin, Gretchen, Henry, Margaret
• Application Number:
  US10/972,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20050185774A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/91.20
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, an architecture is provided for a data processing system that processes data for a service provider itself or a client of a service provider as in the case of a third party processor. The elements of the architecture can be managed separately. For example, the architecture can be organized around eight subject areas, such as account, party, communication point, presentation instrument, rules, balances, transactions, and product. Relationships between each of the subject areas as well as between sub-types of each subject area can be established to provide flexibility in the management of the data.

Claims

1. A method of storing data for communicating with a plurality of parties, said method comprising:

storing data for identifying a communication point for a party as an entry in a communication point database;

generating an internal identifier for use with said entry;

assigning said internal identifier with said entry so as to be able to retrieve said data for identifying said communication point by referencing said internal identifier.

2. The method as described in claim 1 and further comprising:

storing said internal identifier with said data for identifying said communication point.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said storing said data for identifying said communication point for said party comprises storing said data for identifying said communication point without storing data identifying said party as part of said record.

4. The method as described in claim 1 wherein communication point is a geographic address.

5. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said communication point is a telephone number.

6. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said communication point is a fax number.

7. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said communication point is an email address.

8. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said communication point is a network address.

9. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said generating an internal identifier comprises:

accessing an internal number generator separate from said;

randomly generating said internal identifier;

communicating said internal identifier to said communication point database.

10. The method as described in claim 1 and further comprising:

storing an internal identifier with data identifying said party;

assigning said internal identifier identifying said party with said internal identifier identifying said communication point record so as to form an associative relationship between said party and said communication point.

11. The method as described in claim 1 and further comprising:

storing data for identifying a communication point for a second party as an entry in said communication point database.

12. A method of storing delivery instructions for correspondence to be communicated to a party participating in a service relationship, said method comprising:

providing a database;

storing on said database an output type code for use in identifying a type of correspondence to be delivered to a party;

assigning said output type code with said party and with a specific account on which said party plays an account role.

13. The method as described in claim 12 wherein said assigning said output type code with said party and with said specific account on which said party plays an account role comprises:

receiving information from an account party role database.

14. The method as described in claim 13 wherein said receiving information from an account party role database comprises:

receiving a first internal identifier identifying said account; and

receiving a second internal identifier identifying said party.

15. The method as described in claim 12 wherein said type code identifies billing correspondence to be sent to said party.

16. The method as described in claim 12 wherein said type code identifies plastics correspondence to be sent to said party.

17. The method as described in claim 12 wherein said type code identifies plastic mailer correspondence to be sent to said party.

18. The method as described in claim 12 wherein said type code identifies a letter to be sent to said party.

19. The method as described in claim 12 and further comprising:

providing said type code to a party communication point database for use by said party communication point database in directing said correspondence to said party.

20. The method as described in claim 12 and further comprising:

utilizing said type code in conjunction with bulk mail information to direct a bulk mailing to a bulk mail recipient.

21. The method as described in claim 12 and further comprising:

utilizing said type code in conjunction with an effective date code for a party communication point.