ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20070043657A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Van Beaumont, Eric, Dutta, Pijush, LaRose, Rene', Hartigan, Cynthia, Parr, Stephen, Koenigsman, Michael, Miloni-Thiele, Kerry
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

A method of managing accounts relating to presentation instruments includes receiving at a host computer system information from a client defining an account management rule. The rule includes an event, a condition, and an action to be taken if the condition is satisfied upon the occurrence of the event. The method also includes monitoring a plurality of accounts for the occurrence of the event, upon the occurrence of the event for a specific account, evaluating the condition, based on the evaluation, taking the action, thereby managing the account without human intervention, and providing notification of the action to an individual.

Claims

1. A method of managing one or more presentation instrument accounts, comprising:

receiving at a host computer system information from a client defining an account management rule, wherein the rule comprises;

a client-defined event;

a condition; and

an action to be taken if the condition is satisfied upon the occurrence of the client-defined event;

at the host computer system, monitoring the one or more presentation instrument accounts for the occurrence of the client-defined event;

at the host computer system, upon the occurrence of the client-defined event for a specific account, evaluating the account management rule;

based on the evaluation, taking the action, thereby managing the account without human intervention; and

providing notification of the action to an individual.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein taking the action comprises:

opening each of a plurality of files;

writing information to each of the plurality of files;

closing each of the plurality of files;

continuing to evaluate the account management rule;

opening at least one additional file; and

writing information to the at least one additional file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the client-defined event comprises a first event, wherein the account management rule comprises a first account management rule, and wherein the action includes setting an account level criteria, the method further comprising:

monitoring the one or more presentation instrument accounts for the occurrence of a second event relating to a second account management rule; and

using the account level criteria, at least in part, to evaluate the second account management rule.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises a logical expression using at least one element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one element is derived from one or more account attributes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more account attributes are selected from a group consisting of activity flag, account creation data, credit balance, and rewards program balance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the action results in a change to an account attribute.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the account management rule is selected from a library of account management rules.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of managing one or more presentation instrument accounts, the method comprising:

receiving information from a client defining an account management rule, wherein the rule comprises;

a client-defined event;

a condition; and

an action to be taken if the condition is satisfied upon the occurrence of the event;

monitoring the one or more presentation instrument accounts for the occurrence of the client-defined event;

upon the occurrence of the event for a specific account, evaluating the condition; and

based on the evaluation, taking the action, thereby managing the account without human intervention.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein taking the action comprises:

opening each of a plurality of files;

writing information to each of the plurality of files;

closing each of the plurality of files;

continuing to evaluate the account management rule;

opening at least one additional file; and

writing information to the at least one additional file.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the client-defined event comprises a first event, wherein the account management rule comprises a first account management rule, and wherein the action includes setting an account level criteria, the method further comprising:

monitoring the one or more presentation instrument accounts for the occurrence of a second event relating to a second account management rule; and

using the account level criteria, at least in part, to evaluate the second account management rule.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer-executable instructions further include instructions for:

collecting bankcard transaction data; and

processing the bankcard transaction data using the account management rule such that, upon the occurrence of the event, the action is taken with respect to bankcard accounts that satisfy the condition.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein receiving information identifying a condition comprises receiving a logical expression using at least one element.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one element is derived from one or more account attributes.

15. A system for managing one or more presentation instrument accounts, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device;

an output device;

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive from a client a client-defined event;

receive information identifying a condition relating to at least one element associated with bankcard accounts;

receive information defining an action to be taken based on the condition upon the occurrence of the event; and

store the event, the condition, and the action as an account management rule.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

collect bankcard transaction data; and

process the bankcard transaction data using the account management rule such that, upon the occurrence of the event, the action is taken with respect to bankcard accounts that satisfy the condition.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein in processing the bankcard transaction data, the processor is further configured to:

open each of a plurality of files;

write information to each of the plurality of files;

close each of the plurality of files;

continue to process the bankcard transaction data using the account management rule;

open at least one additional file; and

write information to the at least one additional file.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the client-defined event comprises a first event, wherein the account management rule comprises a first account management rule, wherein the action includes setting an account level criteria, and wherein in processing the bankcard transaction data, the processor is further configured to:

monitor the one or more presentation instrument accounts for the occurrence of a second event relating to a second account management rule; and

use the account level criteria, at least in part, to evaluate the second account management rule.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the information identifying a condition comprises a logical expression using at least one element.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one element is derived from one or more account attributes.