Process facility management matrix and system and method for performing batch, processing in an on-line environment

• US 5,940,813 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citibank (South Dakota) NA (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citibank (South Dakota) NA (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hutchings, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kanof, Pedro R.
• Application Number:
  US08/686,524
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 364/408, 364/401, 235/379, 379/67, 379/115, 395/800, 395/244, 395/155, 395/240, 395/375, 382/115, 705/17, 705/21, 705/40, 705/43, 705/38, 705/45
• US Class Current: 705/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• 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 processing system and method receive batch payment data from a plurality of different sources, such as lock-boxes, an ATM or customer activated terminal, an enhanced telephone, a bank teller, or a personal computer. The batch payment data is converted into individual transaction data for on-line processing and is sent to a temporary payment queue. A transaction mover places the data from the queue to a transaction queue and a transaction router subsequently assigns the transactions to available drivers. Each driver processes the payment data and makes appropriate account information updates to a set of master files. A transaction handler coordinates the control of the transaction mover as well as the control of the transaction router. The system operates in conjunction with on-line operations, such as customer service and other mortgage services, and has a transaction handler monitor which controls the speed of processing so that on-line operations can continue during the processing of the payment data. Since the updates to the master files to reflect the received payment data occur during normal operating hours and not at the end of the day, delays in updating account information can be significantly reduced. The speed control offered by the handler monitor enables the system and method to balance the processing of the received batch data with normal CICS activity.

Claims

1. A transaction processing system comprising:

a central processing facility;

a receiving facility for receiving payments to individual accounts and for generating batch payment data based on the payments;

a central processing facility comprising;

a batch converter for receiving said batch payment data from said receiving facility and for converting said batch payment data into payment transaction data for the individual accounts;

a transaction handler;

a transaction mover that transfers transaction data from temporary storage queue files to a transaction queue;

a plurality of payment drivers;

a plurality of transaction routers that determine to which drivers to assign the transaction data;

said payment drivers receiving said transaction data and updating a set of account master data files to reflect said payments; and

a transaction monitor for tracking a time of completion for each payment driver and for writing said permissible number of drivers to a temporary storage queue;

wherein said transaction monitor further determines the maximum number of said routers and said drivers based on said completion times, thereby providing variable processing speed control to the system;

wherein said handler determines when transaction data is available for processing and assigns transaction data to said routers; and

wherein said transaction handler reads said temporary storage queue and limits the number of routers which are active based on said permissible number of drivers specified in said temporary storage queue.

2. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving facility comprises a lock-box facility and said receiving means comprises scanning equipment for capturing said transaction data from payment coupons and checks.

3. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving facility comprises a home services delivery system and said receiving means obtains said transaction data from an enhanced telephone.

4. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving facility comprises a home services delivery system and said receiving means obtains said transaction data from a personal computer.

5. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving facility comprises an automated teller machine and said receiving means obtains said transaction data from customer inputs to the automated teller machine.

6. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said batch converter stores said payment transaction data on a temporary storage queue.

7. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transaction handler transfers said transaction data from said transaction queue to an available router.

8. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said routers store completion times for their respective drivers in a slots intervals file and said monitor receives said completion times from said slots intervals file and determines an average completion time for all of said drivers.

9. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handler activates said mover at regular intervals of time.

10. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said monitor determines said permissible number of drivers at regular intervals of time.

11. The processing system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said regular intervals of time comprises every 20 milliseconds.

12. The processing system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said monitor prevents the number of permissible drivers from exceeding a maximum number of drivers.

13. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said routers assign transaction data representing a plurality of payments to each payment driver.

14. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handler classifies said payment transaction data into a plurality of priority groups, said handler transferring said transaction data to routers in the priority groups in order of priority beginning with a highest priority group so that said drivers update said master files based on said transactions in said highest priority group before transactions in any other priority group.

15. The processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said central processing facility further comprises means for providing access to said master files for at least one account service provider while at least one of said drivers is active.

25. The processing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said speed control minimizes the consumption of system resources due to the processing of said payment transaction data relative to other on-line processes thereby permitting simultaneous payment processing and on-line account services processing.

28. The processing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said payments comprise financing payments.

29. The processing system as set forth in claim 28 wherein said financing payments comprise mortgage payments.

30. The processing system as set forth in claim 28 wherein said financing payments comprise automobile and mobile home payments.

31. The processing system as set forth in claim 28 wherein said financing payments comprise student loan payments.

16. A method for processing transactions comprising:

receiving payments and generating batch payment data at a receiving facility;

transferring said batch payment data to a central facility and converting said batch payment data to transaction data;

moving said transaction data from temporary storage queue files to a temporary queue;

determining to which individual payment drivers to assign said transaction data on said temporary queue;

assigning said transaction data to transaction routers;

updating individual account information in said master files with said payment drivers based on payments reflected in said payment transaction data;

monitoring a completion time for each payment driver;

providing variable processing speed control to the system by controlling the number of drivers and routers which are permitted to be active based on the completion times for the payment drivers; and

determining when said transaction data is available for processing.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, further including a step of providing access to said master files to service providers for the individual accounts.

18. The method as set forth in claim 16, further including a step of classifying said transaction data into priority groups and performing said updating step in order of priority beginning with a group of transaction data in a highest priority.

19. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said step of receiving comprises the step of receiving payments from an automated teller machine.

20. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said step of receiving comprises the step of receiving payments from a lock-box facility.

21. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said step of receiving comprises the step of receiving payments from an enhanced telephone.

22. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said step of receiving comprises the step of receiving payments from a personal computer.

23. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said step of monitoring comprises a step of determining an average completion time for said drivers.

24. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said step of monitoring is repeated at regular intervals so that a speed of processing said payments is continuously monitored.

26. The method as set forth in claim 16 further wherein the consumption of system resources due to the processing of said payment transaction data relative to other on-line processes is minimized.

27. The method as set forth in claim 16 further wherein payment processing and on-line account services processing occur simultaneously.

32. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said payments comprise financing payments.

33. The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein said financing payments comprise mortgage payments.

34. The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein said financing payments comprise automobile and mobile home payments.

35. The method as set forth in claim 32 wherein said financing payments comprise student loan payments.