Screening using a personal identification code

• US 20070022297A1
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transunion Rental Screening Solutions, Inc. (TransUnion Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Transunion Rental Screening Solutions, Inc. (TransUnion Corporation)
• Inventors: Thornley, Robert, Mauseth, Michael, Britti, Michael, Springer, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 8,234,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A system of screening servers, screener client computers, and screening kiosks distribute an applicant screening process among multiple sites and multiple participants. To facilitate and secure communications of screening results and applicant actions, a personal identification code is provided that identifies individual sets of screening results. In this manner, the applicant is authenticated and can then enter appropriate applicant profile data into a secure screening account, such as via a screening kiosk. Screening results may be generated by the applicant in association with a unique personal identification code. This code can then be communicated to the screener, who can access the screening results along with a recommendation, if desired, by sending the code to a screening server. The screener can also enter appropriate screening information into another secure screening account. Based on these screening results, the screener can make a decision about the application and communicate an applicant action to the application.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a selection of screening services and an applicant profile that identifies an applicant;

generating screening results specified by the selection of screening services based on the applicant profile; and

generating a personal identification code associated with the screening results, wherein the screening results can be retrieved using the personal identification code.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection and the applicant profile are submitted by the applicant through a kiosk.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the selection of screening services and an applicant profile from the applicant; and

returning the personal identification code to the applicant.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the returning operation comprises:

returning personal identification code to a kiosk, wherein the applicant has access to the kiosk.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

authenticating an identity of the applicant prior to returning the personal identification code to the applicant.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

authenticating an identity of the applicant prior to generating the screening results.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the personal identification code from a screener; and

returning the screening results to the screener, responsive to the receiving operation.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying one or more screening services to the applicant, based on one or more screening requests from a screener.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process implementing the method of claim 1.

10. A method comprising:

submitting to a screening server a selection of screening services and an applicant profile that identifies an applicant

receiving a personal identification code from the screening server, the personal identification code being associated with screening results generated by the screening services based on the applicant profile; and

submitting the personal identification code in association with an application to a specified screener.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving an applicant action from the screener responsive to the application based on the screening results retrieved by the specified screener based on the personal identification code.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

authenticating an identity of the applicant prior to submitting the selection and applicant profile.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

authenticating an identity of the applicant prior to receiving the personal identification code from the screening server.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

identifying one or more screening services to the applicant, based on one or more screening requests from a screener.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the selection and the applicant profile are entered by an applicant through a kiosk for submission to the screening server.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the personal identification code is entered by an applicant through a kiosk for submission to the specified screener.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process implementing the method of claim 10.

18. A method comprising:

submitting the personal identification code to a screening server, the personal identification code being associated with an applicant profile;

receiving from the screening server screening results associated with the personal identification code, the screening results being generated based on the applicant profile; and

providing an applicant action generated based on the one or more screening results.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

receiving the personal identification code from an applicant; and

returning the applicant action to the applicant.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

identifying one or more screening services to the applicant, based on one or more screening requests from a screener.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the personal identification code is associated with an application by an applicant and the applicant action identifies a response by a screener to the application.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the providing operation comprises:

transmitting the applicant action to an applicant associated with the applicant profile.

23. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process implementing the method of claim 18.