Propagating data to facilitate electronic payments to payees

• US 20050228751A1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Checkfree Services Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Checkfree Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Moenickheim, Peter, Baulch, Howard, Koltnow, Adam, Keown, Blake
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Payments on behalf of a plurality of payors to a plurality of payees are facilitated using respective first data associated with each payor and respective second data associated with each of those payees payable by crediting via electronic funds transfer (EFT), such as by ACH transfer. The respective first data associated with each payor includes payee identity information for each payee designated by that payor, and could for example take the form of a payee list for that payor. The respective second data associated with each payee payable by crediting via EFT includes payment information identifying a deposit account of that payee. Information identifying a first of the payees and a deposit account of the first payee is received by a payment service provider. The first payee is not currently one of those payees associated with respective second data, when this information is received. The payment service provider stores a payee identifier for the first payee in association with payment information corresponding to the received information identifying the first payee deposit account as respective second data associated with the first payee. After receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, the payment service provider determines that the respective first data associated with a first payor includes payee identity information for the first payee and, based on this determination, stores an indicator indicating that the first payee is payable by crediting via EFT, in association with the payee identity information for the first payee in the respective first data associated with the first payor.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating payments on behalf of a plurality of payors to a plurality of payees, using (i) respective first data associated with each of the plurality of payors, the respective first data associated with each payor including payee identity information for each of the plurality of payees designated by the associated payor, and (ii) respective second data associated with each of those of the plurality of payees payable by crediting via electronic funds transfer (EFT), the respective second data associated with each payee including payment information identifying a deposit account of the associated payee, comprising:

receiving, by a payment service provider, information identifying (i) a first of the plurality of payees and (ii) a deposit account of the first payee, wherein the first payee is currently not one of those payees associated with respective second data;

storing, by the payment service provider as respective second data associated with the first payee, a payee identifier for the first payee in association with payment information corresponding to the received information identifying the first payee deposit account;

determining, by the payment service provider after receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, that the respective first data associated with a first of the plurality of payors includes payee identity information for the first payee; and

storing, based on the determination and in association with the payee identity information for the first payee in the respective first data associated with the first payor, an indicator indicating that the first payee is payable by crediting via EFT.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first payee in association with the received information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, a request to receive payments by crediting the first payee deposit account via EFT.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the EFT is an ACH transfer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the stored indicator is the payee identifier for the first payee.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the payee identifier is a unique payee identifier for the first payee.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the payment service provider after receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, that the respective first data associated with a second of the plurality of payors also includes payee identity information for the first payee; and

storing, based on this determination and in association with the payee identity information for the first payee in the respective first data associated with the second payor, the indicator indicating that the first payee is payable by crediting via EFT.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the payment service provider determines that the respective first data associated with the first payor includes the payee identity information for the first payee based on linking information received in association with, and relating the first payor to, the received information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

searching, by the payment service provider, the respective first data associated with each of the plurality of payors, for payee identity information for the first payee;

wherein the payment service provider determines that the respective first data associated with the first payor includes the payee identity information for the first payee based on the search.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the payment service provider, a request of the first payor to make a payment to the first payee, wherein the payment request is received on or before a date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account; and

establishing, by the payment service provider based on the received payment request of the first payor, a date on which the payment service provider is to direct the requested payment to the first payee, wherein the established date is on or after the date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account;

wherein the requested payment is directed by directing the crediting of the deposit account of the first payee via EFT.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

the payment service provider determines that the respective first data associated with the first payor includes the payee identity information for the first payee after receipt of the payment request of the first payor.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

determining, by the payment service provider, after receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, that the established date for directing the requested payment of the first payor to the first payee is on or after the date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account;

wherein the payment service provider directs the crediting of the deposit account of the first payee via EFT based on this determination.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the payment service provider, a request of the first payor to make a payment to the first payee, wherein the payment request is received on or after a date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account;

wherein the payment service provider determines that the respective first data associated with the first payor includes the payee identity information for the first payee after receipt of the payment request of the first payor and, based on this determination, directs the requested payment by directing a crediting of the first payee deposit account via EFT.

13. A system for facilitating payments on behalf of a plurality of payors to a plurality of payees, comprising:

a first data store having respective first data associated with each of the plurality of payors, the respective first data associated with each payor including payee identity information for each of the plurality of payees designated by the associated payor;

a second data store having respective second data associated with each of those of the plurality of payees payable by crediting via electronic funds transfer (EFT), the respective second data associated with each payee including payment information identifying a deposit account of the associated payee; and

a processor configured to (i) receive information identifying a first of the plurality of payees that is not currently one of those payees associated with respective second data and a deposit account of the first payee, (ii) direct storage of a payee identifier for the first payee in association with payment information corresponding to the received information identifying the first payee deposit account, as respective second data associated with the first payee in the second data store, (iii) determine, after receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, that the respective first data associated with a first of the plurality of payors in the first data store includes payee identity information for the first payee, and (iv) direct, based on this determination, storage of an indicator indicating that the first payee is payable by crediting via EFT in association with the payee identity information for the first payee included in the respective first data associated with the first payor in the first data store.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein:

the processor is further configured to (i) determine, after receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, that the respective first data associated with a second of the plurality of payors in the first data store also includes payee identity information for the first payee, and (ii) direct, based on this determination, storage of the indicator indicating that the first payee is payable by crediting via EFT in association with the payee identity information for the first payee included in the respective first data associated with the second payor in the first data store.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein:

the processor is further configured to (i) receive linking information in association with, and relating the first payor to, the received information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account; and

the respective first data associated with the first payor in the first data store is determined to include the payee identity information for the first payee based on the received linking information.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein:

the processor is further configured to direct a search of the respective first data associated with each of the plurality of payors in the first data store, for payee identity information for the first payee; and

the respective first data associated with the first payor is determined to include the payee identity information for the first payee based on a result of the search.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein:

the processor is further configured to (i) receive, on or before a date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, a request of the first payor to make a payment to the first payee, (ii) establish, based on the received payment request of the first payor, a date on which the requested payment to the first payee is to be directed, the established date being on or after the date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, and (iii) direct the requested payment by the crediting of the deposit account of the first payee via EFT.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein:

the respective first data associated with the first payor in the first data store is determined to include the payee identity information for the first payee, after receipt of the payment request of the first payor.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein:

the processor is further configured to (i) determine, after receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, that a date established for directing a payment to the first payee requested by the first payor on or before the receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, is on or after the date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, and (ii) direct the payment to the first payee by crediting the deposit account of the first payee via EFT based on this determination.

20. The system, according to claim 13, wherein:

the processor is further configured to (i) receive, on or after a date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, a request of the first payor to make a payment to the first payee and (ii) direct the requested payment by the crediting of the first payee deposit account via EFT;

the respective first data associated with the first payor in the first data store is determined to include the payee identity information for the first payee, after receipt of the payment request of the first payor; and

the requested payment is directed by the crediting of the first payee deposit account via EFT, based on this determination.

21. A networked system, including multiple network stations interconnected by a wide area communications network, for facilitating payments on behalf of a plurality of payors to a plurality of payees, comprising:

a first data store having respective first data associated with each of the plurality of payors, the respective first data associated with each payor including payee identity information for each of the plurality of payees designated by the associated payor;

a second data store having respective second data associated with each of those of the plurality of payees payable by crediting via electronic funds transfer (EFT), the respective second data associated with each payee including payment information identifying a deposit account of the associated payee; and

a first network station, representing a first of the plurality of payees that is currently not one of those payees associated with respective second data, configured to transmit, via the network, information identifying the first payee and a deposit account of the first payee the payee; and

a second network station, representing a bill payment service provider, configured to (i) direct storage of respective second data associated with the first payee in the second data store including a payee identifier for the first payee and payment information corresponding to the received information identifying the first payee deposit account, (ii) determine, after receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, that the respective first data associated with a first of the plurality of payors in the first data store includes payee identity information for the first payee, and (iii) direct, based on this determination, storage of an indicator indicating that the first payee is payable by crediting via EFT, in association with the payee identity information for the first payee included in the respective first data associated with the first payor in the first data store.

22. The networked system according to claim 21, wherein:

the second network station is further configured to (i) determine, after receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, that the respective first data associated with a second of the plurality of payors in the first data store also includes payee identity information for the first payee, and (ii) direct, based on this determination, storage of the indicator indicating that the first payee is payable by crediting via EFT in association with the payee identity information for the first payee included in the respective first data associated with the second payor in the first data store.

23. The networked system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a third network station, representing the first payor, configured to transmit, on or before a date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, a request of the first payor for a payment to be made to the first payee;

wherein the second network station is further configured to (i) determine, after receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, that a date established for directing the requested payment to the first payee is on or after the date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, (ii) and direct the requested payment to the first payee by crediting the deposit account of the first payee via EFT, based on this determination.

24. The networked system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a third network station, representing the first payor, configured to transmit, on or after a date of receipt of the information identifying the first payee and the first payee deposit account, a request of the first payor for a payment to be made to the first payee;

wherein the respective first data associated with the first payor in the first data store is determined to include the payee identity information for the first payee, after receipt of the payment request of the first payor; and

wherein the second network station is further configured to direct the requested payment by crediting the first payee deposit account via EFT, based on this determination.