Communication point bulk mail

• US 20060167952A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Henry-Saal, Margaret Ann, Grear, Michael B., Donlin, Gretchen L., Melanson, Patricia L.
• Application Number:
  US11/371,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20060167952A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• 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 various embodiments of the invention, an architecture is provided for a data processing system. 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 via an intermediate communication point, the method comprising:

storing data identifying a plurality of parties, each party stored as a separate set of data;

storing data identifying a geographic communication point separately from the data identifying the plurality of parties, wherein the geographic communication point comprises a physical contact point where communications are received;

linking the set of data identifying the geographic communication point with a set of data identifying a first party of the plurality, to establish a party-communication point link; and

defining the party-communication point link as a bulk mail destination comprising an intermediate point which receives correspondence directed at one or more other parties of the plurality.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic communication point comprises a selection from the group consisting of a geographic address, a mailing address, a Post Office Box, a private mailbox, and any other location at which mail is received.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the correspondence comprises a selection from the group consisting of a bill, a statement, an account summary, a credit card, an other financial card, and any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing data identifying a plurality of accounts, each account stored as a separate set of data,

wherein each of the one or more other parties are associated with a different account.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more other parties are associated with a different account via an account party role relationship.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the correspondence comprises a plurality of items, each item attributable to a different account of the plurality of accounts, and each item further directed to the other party associated with each different account.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the correspondence comprises a plurality of items.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each item within a bulk mailing is not sealed.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein each item within a bulk mailing is metered.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein one of the plurality of items comprises a second bulk mailing directed at a second intermediate destination.

11. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising:

providing data comprising an other party and an associated geographic communication point for each item, for purposes of addressing each item.

12. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

generating data comprising the information in the correspondence.

13. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

assigning a first identifier to the set of first party data; and

assigning a second identifier to the set of geographic communication point data,

wherein the party-communication point link comprises an association between the first identifier and the second identifier.

14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the computer-implementable method for storing data of claim 1.

15. A method of storing data for communicating with a plurality of communication points via an intermediate communication point, the method comprising:

storing data identifying a plurality of geographic communication points, each geographic communication point stored separately, wherein each geographic communication point comprises a physical contact point where communications are received;

storing a set of data identifying a party separately from the data identifying the plurality of geographic communication points;

linking the set of party data with data identifying a first geographic communication point of the plurality, to establish a party-communication point link; and

defining the party-communication point link as a bulk mail destination comprising an intermediate point which receives correspondence directed at one or more other geographic communication points of the plurality.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the party-communication point link is stored separately from the data identifying the plurality of geographic communication points and the set of party data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the party-communication point link comprises a replication of the party data, a replication of the data identifying the first geographic communication point, and data indicating that the party-communication point link is a bulk mail destination.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the defining step comprises associating a bulk mail identifier with the party-communication point link.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the correspondence within a bulk mailing is sealed.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the correspondence within a bulk mailing is not metered.

21. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

providing data comprising the other geographic communication points, and a party associated with each other geographic communication point, for purposes of addressing the correspondence.

22. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

assigning a first identifier to the data identifying the first communication point; and

assigning a second identifier to the set of party data,

wherein the party-communication point link comprises an association between the first identifier and the second identifier.

23. A computer system adapted to perform the computer-implementable method for storing data of claim 15.

24. A method of storing data for communicating with a plurality of communication points via an intermediate point, the method comprising:

storing data identifying a party and a first geographic communication point together as a first set of data, wherein the first geographic communication point comprises a physical contact point where communications are received;

storing data identifying a plurality of other geographic communication points, the other geographic communication points stored separately from each other and separately from the first set of data, wherein the other geographic communication points comprises a physical contact point where communications are received; and

defining the first set of data as a bulk mail destination comprising an intermediate point which receives correspondence directed at the other communication points.

25. The method of claim 24, the method further comprising:

assigning a bulk mail identifier to the first set of data.

26. The method of claim 25, the method further comprising:

storing data identifying a plurality of other parties,

linking each other geographic communication point with a different party of the plurality of other parties, each link comprising a party-communication point link; and

associating the bulk mail identifier with each of the party-communication point links.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

storing data identifying a plurality of accounts,

wherein each party-communication point link is associated with an account of the plurality of accounts.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein each party-communication point link is stored separately from the first set of data and the data identifying the plurality of other geographic communication points.

29. A method of storing identifiers for purposes of communicating with a plurality of communication points via an intermediate point, the method comprising:

storing a first identifier which identifies a set of data identifying a party;

storing a second identifier which identifies data identifying a geographic communication point, the set of geographic communication point data stored separately from the set of party data, wherein the geographic communication point defines a physical contact point where communications are received;

associating the first identifier, the second identifier, and data defining the association between the party and the geographic communication point as a bulk mail destination comprising an intermediate point which receives correspondence directed at other communication points, the association comprising a bulk mail association;

assigning a bulk mail identifier to bulk mail association; and

associating the bulk mail identifier with data comprising the other communication points.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first identifier, the second identifier, and the data defining the association between the party and the communication point comprise an independent set of data, stored separately from the set of geographic communication point data and the set of party data.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the independent set of data further comprises the bulk mail identifier.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein each identifier is configured to allow retrieval of data to which the each identifier is assigned by referencing the each identifier.

33. A system of storing data for communicating with a party, the system comprising:

a communication point database for storing data identifying a plurality of geographic communication points which comprise physical contact points where communications are received, wherein data identifying each geographic communication point of the plurality is stored separately;

a party database for storing a set of data identifying a party, the set of party data stored separately from the communication point database;

a first link between the set of party data and data identifying a first geographic communication point, the first link comprising an intermediate point which receives correspondence directed at other geographic communication points of the plurality; and

a plurality of additional links, the additional links comprising links between the first link and data identifying the other geographic communication points.

34. The system of claim 33, the system further comprising:

a party-account-communication point database for storing data identifying the additional links, and associating each additional link of the plurality with data identifying an account.