Expanded mass data sets for electronic check processing

• US 20060237526A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Federal Reserve System)
• Original Assignee: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Federal Reserve System), Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Federal Reserve System), Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Federal Reserve System), Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (Federal Reserve System)
• Inventors: Mueller, Randall Lee, Nori, V. Srinivas, Schaadt, Thomas Edwin, Purser, Steven Q., Gonzalez, Pablo, Blake, James A., Herring, Bruce D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• 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

Abstract

Accommodating the data needed to process checks for payment under the Check Clearing for the 21^st Century Act by using expanded fields of a financial data file. The financial data file can comprise the complete, original MICR data from an original or substitute paper check. The financial data file can comprise truncated data in conventional fields F1-F7 and untruncated data in expanded fields F10-F11. The financial data file further can comprise a result from an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check. The untruncated MICR data and the electronic check image can be used to correct errors in the financial data file and to present the check for payment via a substitute check or an electronic image cash letter. The truncated MICR data can be used to electronically process the check via conventional means.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for creating an expanded mass data set of a financial data file to process a check for payment, comprising the steps of:

identifying financial data related to the check, the financial data comprising “

on us”

data and “

auxiliary on us”

data;

storing the “

on us”

data in a first field of a financial data file;

storing the “

auxiliary on us”

data in a second field of the financial data file;

truncating the “

auxiliary on us”

data; and

storing the truncated “

auxiliary on us”

data in a third field of the financial data file.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the financial data comprises reading MICR data from the check, and

wherein the “

on us”

data comprises at least a portion of the MICR data.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the “

on us”

data comprises process control data, and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of;

truncating the “

on us”

data; and

storing the truncated “

on us”

data in a fourth field of the financial data file.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the “

on us”

data comprises account number data, and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of;

truncating the “

on us”

data; and

storing the truncated “

on us”

data in a fourth field of the financial data file.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the “

on us”

data comprises check number data, and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of;

truncating the “

on us”

data; and

storing the truncated “

on us”

data in a fourth field of the financial data file.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

capturing an electronic image of the check; and

associating the electronic image with the financial data file.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 6, wherein the step of associating the electronic image with the financial data file comprises the step of assigning a common file name to the electronic image and the financial data file.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the financial data further comprises amount data and routing transit number data, and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

storing the amount data in a fourth field of the financial data file; and

storing the routing transit number data in a fifth field of the financial data file.

9. The computer-implemented method according to claim 8, wherein the financial data further comprises an external processing code, and

wherein the method further comprises the step of storing the external processing code in a sixth field of the financial data file.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

detecting an error in the financial data file;

identifying an electronic check image associated with the financial data file;

presenting the electronic check image;

presenting the amount data stored in the fourth field of the financial data file, the “

on us”

data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file, and the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the second field of the financial data file; and

correcting the error in the financial data file based on the presented electronic check image.

11. The computer-implemented method according to claim 10, wherein the step of correcting the error in the financial data file comprises the steps of:

changing presented data to correspond with information presented on the check image;

storing the corrected data in one of the first field and the second field;

determining whether the corrected data comprises “

auxiliary on us”

data; and

truncating the corrected “

auxiliary on us”

data and storing the truncated “

auxiliary on us”

data in the third field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises “

auxiliary on us”

data.

12. The computer-implemented method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of creating a substitute check comprising the “

on us”

data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the electronic image, the amount data stored in the fourth field of the financial data file, and the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file.

13. The computer-implemented method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of storing addenda data related to the check, and

wherein the substitute check comprises the addenda data.

14. The computer-implemented method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of creating an image cash letter comprising the “

on us”

data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the electronic image, the amount data stored in the fourth field of the financial data file, and the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file.

15. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein truncating comprises removing at least one of dashes and data beyond a specified number of characters.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

17. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a result of an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check; and

storing the identified result in a fourth field of the financial data file.

18. A computer-implemented system for creating an expanded mass data set of a financial data file to process a check for payment, comprising:

a data capture module operable to;

identify financial data related to the check, the financial data comprising “

on us”

data and “

auxiliary on us”

data, and

truncate the “

auxiliary on us”

data; and

a data storage device operable to;

store the identified “

on us”

data in a first field of a financial data file,

store the identified “

auxiliary on us”

data in a second field of the financial data file, and

store the truncated “

auxiliary on us”

data in a third field of the financial data file.

19. The computer-implemented system according to claim 18, wherein the “

on us”

data comprises process control data, and

wherein the data capture module is further operable to truncate the “

on us”

data; and

wherein the data storage device is further operable to store the truncated “

on us”

data in a fourth field of the financial data file.

20. The computer-implemented system according to claim 18, wherein the “

on us”

data comprises account number data, and

wherein the data capture module is further operable to truncate the “

on us”

data; and

wherein the data storage device is further operable to store the truncated “

on us”

data in a fourth field of the financial data file.

21. The computer-implemented system according to claim 18, wherein the “

on us”

data comprises check number data, and

wherein the data capture module is further operable to truncate the “

on us”

data; and

wherein the data storage device is further operable to store the truncated “

on us”

data in a fourth field of the financial data file.

22. The computer-implemented system according to claim 18, further comprising:

an image capturing device operable to capture an electronic image of the check; and

wherein the data capture module is further operable to associate the electronic image with the financial data file.

23. The computer-implemented system according to claim 22, wherein the financial data further comprises amount data and routing transit number data, and

wherein the data capture module is further operable to:

store the amount data in a fourth field of the financial data file, and

store the routing transit number data in a fifth field of the financial data file.

24. The computer-implemented system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a reject/repair module operable to;

detect an error in the financial data file, and

identify the electronic image associated with the financial data file;

a display operable to;

present the electronic image, and

present the amount data stored in the fourth field of the financial data file, the “

on us”

data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file, and the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the second field of the financial data file; and

wherein the reject/repair module is further operable to correct the error in the financial data file based on the presented image.

25. The computer-implemented system according to claim 18, wherein the data capture module is further operable to identify a result of an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check, and

wherein the data storage device is further operable to store the identified result in a fourth field of the financial data file.

26. The computer-implemented system according to claim 18, wherein the data capture module comprises at least one of a check sorter and a MICR reader.

27. A computer-implemented method for creating an expanded mass data set of a financial data file to process a check for payment, comprising the steps of:

identifying financial data related to the check, the financial data comprising “

on us”

data and “

auxiliary on us”

data;

storing the “

on us”

data in a first field of a financial data file;

storing the “

auxiliary on us”

data in a second field of the financial data file;

truncating the “

on us”

data; and

storing the truncated “

on us”

data in a third field of the financial data file.

28. The computer-implemented method according to claim 27, wherein the step of identifying the financial data comprises reading MICR data from the check, and

wherein the financial data comprises at least a portion of the MICR data.

29. The computer-implemented method according to claim 27, wherein the “

on us”

data comprises at least one of process control data, account number data, and check number data.

30. The computer-implemented method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

capturing an electronic image of the check; and

associating the electronic image with the financial data file.

31. The computer-implemented method according to claim 30, wherein the step of associating the electronic image with the financial data file comprises the step of assigning a common file name to the electronic image and the financial data file.

32. The computer-implemented method according to claim 30, wherein the financial data further comprises amount data and routing transit number data, and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

storing the amount data in a fourth field of the financial data file; and

storing the routing transit number data in a fifth field of the financial data file.

33. The computer-implemented method according to claim 32, wherein the financial data further comprises an external processing code, and

wherein the method further comprises the step of storing the external processing code in a sixth field of the financial data file.

34. The computer-implemented method according to claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

detecting an error in the financial data file;

identifying the electronic image associated with the financial data file;

presenting the electronic image;

presenting the amount data stored in the fourth field of the financial data file, the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file, the “

on us”

data stored in the first field of the financial data file, and the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the second field of the financial data file; and

correcting the error in the financial data file based on the presented image.

35. The computer-implemented method according to claim 34, wherein the step of correcting the error in the financial data file comprises the steps of:

changing presented data to correspond with information presented on the check image;

storing the corrected data in one of the first field and the second field;

determining whether the corrected data comprises “

on us”

data; and

truncating the corrected “

on us”

data and storing the truncated “

on us”

data in the third field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises “

on us”

data.

36. The computer-implemented method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of creating a substitute check comprising the “

on us”

data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the electronic image, the amount data stored in the fourth field of the financial data file, and the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file.

37. The computer-implemented method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of storing addenda data related to the check, and

wherein the substitute check comprises the addenda data.

38. The computer-implemented method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of creating an image cash letter comprising the “

on us”

data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the electronic image, the amount data stored in the fourth field of the financial data file, and the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file.

39. The computer-implemented method according to claim 27, wherein truncating comprises removing at least one of extraneous characters and data beyond a specified number of characters.

40. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 27.

41. The computer-implemented method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a result of an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check; and

storing the identified result in a fourth field of the financial data file.

42. A computer-implemented system for creating an expanded mass data set of a financial data file to process a check for payment, comprising:

a data capture module operable to;

identify financial data related to the check, the financial data comprising “

on us”

data and “

auxiliary on us”

data, and

truncate the “

on us”

data; and

a data storage device operable to;

store the identified “

on us”

data in a first field of a financial data file,

store the identified “

auxiliary on us”

data in a second field of the financial data file, and

store the truncated “

on us”

data in a third field of the financial data file.

43. The computer-implemented system according to claim 42, wherein the “

on us”

data comprises at least one of process control data, account number data, and check number data.

44. The computer-implemented system according to claim 42, further comprising:

an image capturing device operable to capture an electronic image of the check; and

wherein the data capture module is further operable to associate the electronic image with the financial data file.

45. The computer-implemented system according to claim 42, wherein the financial data further comprises amount data and routing transit number data, and

wherein the data capture module is further operable to:

store the amount data in a fourth field of the financial data file, and

store the routing transit number data in a fifth field of the financial data file.

46. The computer-implemented system according to claim 45, further comprising:

a reject/repair module operable to;

detect an error in the financial data file, and

identify an electronic image associated with the financial data file;

a display operable to;

present the electronic image, and

present the amount data stored in the fourth field of the financial data file, the “

on us”

data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file, and the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the second field of the financial data file; and

wherein the reject/repair module is further operable to correct the error in the financial data file based on the presented image.

47. The computer-implemented system according to claim 42, wherein the data capture module is further operable to identify a result of an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check, and

wherein the data storage device is further operable to store the identified result in a fourth field of the financial data file.

48. The computer-implemented system according to claim 42, wherein the data capture module comprises at least one of a check sorter and a MICR reader.

49. A computer-implemented method for creating a financial data file for processing a check for payment, comprising the steps of:

identifying financial data related to a check, the financial data comprising amount data, account number data, check number data, routing transit number data, and “

auxiliary on us”

data;

storing the amount data in a first field of the financial data file;

storing the account number data in a second field of the financial data file;

truncating the account number data;

storing the truncated account number data in a third field of the financial data file;

storing the check number data in the second field of the financial data file;

truncating the check number data;

storing the truncated check number data in a fourth field of the financial data file;

storing the routing transit number data in a fifth field of the financial data file;

storing the “

auxiliary on us”

data in a sixth field of the financial data file;

truncating the “

auxiliary on us”

data; and

storing the truncated “

auxiliary on us”

data in a seventh field of the financial data

50. The computer-implemented method according to claim 49, wherein the step of identifying the financial data comprises reading MICR data from the check, and

wherein the financial data comprises at least a portion of the MICR data.

51. The computer-implemented method according to claim 49, wherein the financial data further comprises an external processing code, and

wherein the method further comprises storing the external processing code in an eighth field of the financial data file.

52. The computer-implemented method according to claim 49, further comprising the steps of:

capturing an electronic image of the check; and

associating the electronic image with the financial data file.

53. The computer-implemented method according to claim 52, further comprising the step of creating a substitute check comprising the amount data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the account number data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the check number data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the electronic image, the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file, and the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the sixth field of the financial data file.

54. The computer-implemented method according to claim 52, further comprising the step of creating an image cash letter comprising the amount data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the account number data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the check number data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the electronic image, the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file, and the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the sixth field of the financial data file.

55. The computer-implemented method according to claim 52, further comprising the steps of:

detecting an error in the financial data file;

identifying the electronic image associated with the financial data file;

presenting the electronic image;

presenting the account number data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the check number data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the routing transit number data stored in the fifth field of the financial data file, and the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the sixth field of the financial data file; and

correcting the error based on the presented image.

56. The computer-implemented method according to claim 55, wherein the step of correcting the error in the financial data file comprises the steps of:

changing presented data to correspond with information presented on the check image;

storing the corrected data in one of the second field and the sixth field;

determining whether the corrected data comprises account number data;

truncating the corrected account number data and storing the truncated account number data in the third field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises account number data;

determining whether the corrected data comprises check number data;

truncating the corrected check number data and storing the truncated check number data in the fourth field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises check number data;

determining whether the corrected data comprises “

auxiliary on us”

data; and

truncating the corrected “

auxiliary on us”

data and storing the truncated “

auxiliary on us”

data in the seventh field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises “

auxiliary on us”

data.

57. The computer-implemented method according to claim 49, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a result of an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check; and

storing the identified result in an eighth field of the financial data file.

58. The computer-implemented method according to claim 49, wherein truncating comprises removing at least one of dashes and data beyond a specified number of characters.

59. The computer-implemented method according to claim 49, wherein the financial data further comprises process control data, and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

storing the process control data in the second field of the financial data file;

truncating the process control data; and

storing the truncated process control data in an eighth field of the financial data file.

60. A computer-implemented method for creating a financial data file for processing a check for payment, comprising the steps of:

identifying financial data related to a check, the financial data comprising account number data, check number data, routing transit number data, and “

auxiliary on us”

data;

storing the account number data in a first field of the financial data file;

storing the check number data in the first field of the financial data file;

storing the routing transit number data in a second field of the financial data file;

storing the “

auxiliary on us”

data in a third field of the financial data file;

capturing an electronic image of the check;

detecting an error in the financial data file;

presenting the electronic image of the check;

presenting the account number data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the check number data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the routing transit number data stored in the second field of the financial data file, and the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the third field of the financial data file;

correcting the error in the financial data file based on the presented image;

determining whether the corrected data comprises “

auxiliary on us”

data; and

truncating the corrected “

auxiliary on us”

data and storing the corrected “

auxiliary on us”

data in a fourth field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises “

auxiliary on us”

data.

63. The computer-implemented method according to claim 60, wherein the step of correcting the error in the financial data file comprises the steps of:

changing the presented data to correspond with information presented on the check image; and

storing the corrected data in one of the first field and the third field.

64. The computer-implemented method according to claim 60, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the corrected data comprises account number data; and

truncating the corrected account number data and storing the truncated account number data in a fifth field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises account number data.

65. The computer-implemented method according to claim 60, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the corrected data comprises check number data; and

truncating the corrected check number data and storing the truncated check number data in a fifth field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises check number data.

66. The computer-implemented method according to claim 60, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the corrected data comprises routing transit number data; and

storing the corrected routing transit number data in the second field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises routing transit number data.

61. A computer-implemented method for repairing a financial data file for processing a check for payment, comprising the steps of:

detecting an error in a financial data file comprising financial data related to a check;

presenting an electronic image of the check;

presenting account number data stored in a first field of the financial data file, check number data stored in the first field of the financial data file, routing transit number data stored in a second field of the financial data file, and “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in a third field of the financial data file;

correcting the error in the financial data file based on the presented image;

determining whether the corrected data comprises “

auxiliary on us”

data; and

truncating the corrected “

auxiliary on us”

data and storing the truncated “

auxiliary on us”

data in a fourth field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises “

auxiliary on us”

data.

67. The computer-implemented method according to claim 61, wherein the step of correcting the error in the financial data file comprises the steps of:

changing the presented data to correspond with information presented on the check image; and

storing the corrected data in one of the first field and the third field.

68. The computer-implemented method according to claim 61, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the corrected data comprises account number data; and

truncating the corrected account number data and storing the truncated account number data in a fifth field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises account number data.

69. The computer-implemented method according to claim 61, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the corrected data comprises check number data; and

truncating the corrected check number data and storing the truncated check number data in a fifth field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises check number data.

70. The computer-implemented method according to claim 61, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the corrected data comprises routing transit number data; and

storing the corrected routing transit number data in the second field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises routing transit number data.

62. A computer-implemented system for repairing a financial data file for processing a check for payment, comprising:

a reject/repair module operable to;

detect an error in a financial data file comprising financial data related to a check, the financial data comprising amount data stored in a first field of the financial data file, “

on us”

data stored in a second field of the financial data file, routing transit number data stored in a third field of the financial data file, and “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in a fourth field of the financial data file, and

identify an electronic image associated with the financial data file; and

a display operable to;

present the electronic image associated with the financial data file, and

present the amount data stored in the first field of the financial data file, the “

on us”

data stored in the second field of the financial data file, the routing transit number data stored in the third field of the financial data file, and the “

auxiliary on us”

data stored in the fourth field of the financial data file; and

wherein the reject/repair module is further operable to;

correct the error in the financial data file based on the presented image,

determine whether the corrected data comprises “

on us”

data, and

truncate the corrected “

on us”

data and store the truncated “

on us”

data in a fifth field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises “

on us”

data.

71. The system according to claim 62, wherein correcting the error in the financial data file comprises storing corrected data in one of the second field and the fourth field, the corrected data comprising data resulting from at least one change to the presented data to correspond with information presented on the check image.

72. The system according to claim 62, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the corrected data comprises amount data; and

storing the corrected amount data in the first field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises amount data.

73. The system according to claim 62, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the corrected data comprises “

auxiliary on us”

data; and

truncating the corrected “

on us”

data and storing the truncated “

auxiliary on us”

data in a sixth field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises “

auxiliary on us”

data.

74. The system according to claim 62, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the corrected data comprises routing transit number data; and

storing the corrected routing transit number data in the third field of the financial data file in response to determining that the corrected data comprises routing transit number data.