Identity verification switch

• US 20070012757A1
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Early Warning Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sgambati, Glen, Perrotta, Robert, Mayo, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions

Abstract

Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for an identity verification switch. According to one embodiment, the method comprises receiving from an inquirer a request to verify an identity of an individual initiating a transaction. The request includes account information for an account subject to the transaction and identity information for the individual initiating the transaction. Based on the request, a verifying financial institution is selected from one or more participating financial institutions. The request is forwarded to the verifying financial institution for verification of the identity information. An answer is received from the verifying financial institution indicating results of verification of the identity information. The answer is returned to the inquirer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving from an inquirer a request to verify an identity of an individual initiating a transaction, the request including account information for an account subject to the transaction and identity information for the individual initiating the transaction;

selecting, based on the request, a verifying financial institution from one or more participating financial institutions;

forwarding the request to the verifying financial institution for verification of the identity information;

receiving from the verifying financial institution an answer indicating results of verification of the identity information; and

returning the answer to the inquirer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the account information from the request comprises a Routing Transit (RT) number.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the verifying financial institution from one or more participating financial institutions is based on the RT number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein verification of the identity information comprises determining whether the individual is authorized to conduct transactions on the account based on the identity information from the request and account information maintained by the verifying financial institution.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the answer comprises positive indications corresponding to identity information from the request that matches identity information for individuals authorized to conduct transactions on the account maintained by the verifying financial institution.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the answer comprises negative indications corresponding to identity information from the request that does not match identity information for individuals authorized to conduct transactions on the account maintained by the verifying financial institution.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the answer comprises cautionary indications corresponding to identity information from the request that is not found in identity information for individuals authorized to conduct transactions on the account maintained by the verifying financial institution.

8. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicative connected with and readable by the processor and containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to receive from an inquirer a request to verify an identity of an individual initiating a transaction, the request including account information for an account subject to the transaction and identity information for the individual initiating the transaction, select, based on the request, a verifying financial institution from one or more participating financial institutions, forward the request to the verifying financial institution for verification of the identity information, receive from the verifying financial institution an answer indicating results of verification of the identity information, and return the answer to the inquirer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the account information from the request comprises a Routing Transit (RT) number and wherein selecting the verifying financial institution from one or more participating financial institutions is based on the RT number.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein verification of the identity information comprises determining whether the individual is authorized to conduct transactions on the account based on the identity information from the request and account information maintained by the verifying financial institution.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the answer comprises positive indications corresponding to identity information from the request that matches identity information for individuals authorized to conduct transactions on the account maintained by the verifying financial institution.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the answer comprises negative indications corresponding to identity information from the request that does not match identity information for individuals authorized to conduct transactions on the account maintained by the verifying financial institution.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the answer comprises cautionary indications corresponding to identity information from the request that is not found in identity information for individuals authorized to conduct transactions on the account maintained by the verifying financial institution.

14. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a series of executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive from an inquirer a request to verify an identity of an individual initiating a transaction, the request including account information for an account subject to the transaction and identity information for the individual initiating the transaction, the account information comprising a Routing Transit (RT) number and an account number;

select, based on the RT number, a verifying financial institution from one or more participating financial institutions;

forward the request to the verifying financial institution for verification of the identity information;

receive from the verifying financial institution an answer indicating results of verification of the identity information; and

return the answer to the inquirer.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein verification of the identity information comprises determining whether the individual is authorized to conduct transactions on the account based on the identity information from the request and account information maintained by the verifying financial institution.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the answer comprises positive indications corresponding to identity information from the request that matches identity information for individuals authorized to conduct transactions on the account maintained by the verifying financial institution.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the answer comprises negative indications corresponding to identity information from the request that does not match identity information for individuals authorized to conduct transactions on the account maintained by the verifying financial institution.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the answer comprises cautionary indications corresponding to identity information from the request that is not found in identity information for individuals authorized to conduct transactions on the account maintained by the verifying financial institution.