Method and apparatus for electronic collection, translation, grouping and delivery of wage assignment information

• US 6,567,821 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ACS State & Local Solutions Incorporated (Conduent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Polk, John
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/200,943
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/125 Finance or payroll
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

This disclosure describes a system that electronically collects, translates, groups, and delivers wage assignment information from at least one initiator to at least one recipient via an accumulator. An initiator initially receives the wage assignment information. Then, an accumulator collects the wage assignment information from at least one initiator, such as a government agency. The accumulator then translates the wage assignment information into a format compatible with electronic data interchange (EDI), such as the ANSI X12 standard. The accumulator then groups the EDI wage assignment information into specific files, batching the files based upon one data field contained within the wage assignment information data set, such as a recipient. The accumulator then delivers a batched EDI wage assignment file to each respective recipient. Once the EDI wage assignment file is received by the recipient, the wage assignment may then be implemented.

Claims

1. An accumulator, comprising:

a collecting component configured to collect a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators;

a translating component configured to translate the wage assignments into files with a standard wage assignment format, the format including data in at least one data field;

a grouping component configured to group the standard wage assignment format files into batch files based on the data stored in at least one data field of the standard wage assignment format; and

a delivering component configured to deliver a batch file to each of a plurality of recipients.

2. The system of claim 45, wherein the collecting component includes an inputting component configured to input the wage assignments into a database.

3. The system of claim 45, wherein the translating component includes a generating component configured to generate an electronic data interchange (EDI) file.

4. The system of claim 47, wherein the generating component further includes a utilizing component configured to utilize the 521 record set.

5. The system of claim 45, wherein the main translating component comprises:

an identifying component configured to identify a set of mapping rules; and

a subordinate translating component configured to translate the wage assignments according to the mapping rules.

6. The system of claim 45, further comprising a certifying component configured to certify the recipient.

7. A method of processing wage assignments at an accumulator, comprising the steps, performed by a processor, of:

collecting a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators;

translating the wage assignments into files with a standard wage assignment format, the format including data in at least one data field;

grouping the standard wage assignment format files into batch files based on the data stored in at least one data field of the standard wage assignment format; and

delivering a batch file to each of a plurality of recipients.

8. The method of claim 51, wherein the collecting step includes inputting the wage assignments into a database.

9. The method of claim 51, wherein the step of translating includes generating an electronic data interchange (EDI) file.

10. The method of claim 53, wherein the step of generating an EDI file further includes utilizing the 521 record set.

11. The method of claim 51, wherein the translating step comprises the substeps of:

identifying a set of mapping rules; and

translating the wage assignments according to the mapping rules.

12. The method of claim 51, further comprising certifying the recipient.

13. An accumulator, comprising:

means for collecting a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators;

means for translating the wage assignments into files with a standard wage assignment format, the format including data in at least one data field;

means for grouping the standard wage assignment format files into batch files based on the data stored in at least one data field of the standard wage assignment format; and

means for delivering a batch file to each of a plurality of recipients.

14. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing wage assignments at an accumulator, the computer usable medium comprising:

a collecting module configured to collect a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators;

a translating module configured to translate the wage assignments into files with a standard wage assignment format, the format including data in at least one data field;

a grouping module configured to group the standard wage assignment format files into batch files based on the data stored in at least one data field of the standard wage assignment format; and

a delivering module configured to deliver a batch file to each of a plurality of recipients.

15. A data processing system for collecting and delivering wage assignment information of a person, comprising:

a first receiving component configured to receive wage assignment information for the person;

a storing component configured to store the wage assignment information in a database at an agency;

a transmitting component configured to transmit the database from the agency to an accumulator;

a collecting component configured to collect the database at the accumulator;

a translating component configured to translate the database into a file with a standardized format, the standardized format includes data stored in at least one data field;

a batching component configured to batch the standardized format file based at least on the data stored in the one data field;

a delivering component configured to deliver the batched standardized format file to a recipient;

a second receiving component configured to receive at the recipient the batched standardized format file; and

a processing component configured to process the standardized format file to initiate the wage assignment.

16. The system of claim 15, where the person is a noncustodial parent.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the collecting component includes an electronic file receiving component configured to receive the database as an electronic file.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the translating component includes an EDI generating component configured to generate an electronic data interchange (EDI) file.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the translating component further includes a 521 record set generating component to generate an EDI file using the 521 record set.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

an identifying component configured to identify a set of translating rules; and

a subordinate translating component configured to translate the wage assignment information according to the translation rules.

21. A method of collecting and delivering wage assignment information of a person, comprising the steps, performed by a processor, of:

receiving wage assignment information for the person;

storing the wage assignment information in a database at an agency;

transmitting the database from the agency to an accumulator;

collecting the database at the accumulator;

translating the database into a file with a standardized format, the standardized format includes data stored in at least one data field;

batching the standardized format file based at least on the data stored in the one data field;

delivering the batched standardized format file to a recipient;

receiving at the recipient the batched standardized format file; and

processing the standardized format file to initiate the wage assignment.

22. The method of claim 21, where the person is a noncustodial parent.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the collecting step includes receiving the database as an electronic file.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the translating step includes generating an electronic data interchange (EDI) file.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the translating step further includes generating an EDI file using the 521 record set.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

identifying a set of translating rules; and

translating the wage assignment information according to the translation rules.

27. A system for collecting and delivering wage assignment information of a person, comprising:

means for receiving wage assignment information for the person;

means for storing the wage assignment information in a database at an agency;

means for transmitting the database from the agency to an accumulator;

means for collecting the database at the accumulator;

means for translating the database into a file with a standardized format, the standardized format includes data stored in at least one data field;

means for batching the standardized format file based at least on the data stored in the one data field;

means for delivering the batched standardized format file to a recipient;

means for receiving at the recipient the batched standardized format file; and

means for processing the standardized format file to initiate the wage assignment.

28. A computer usable medium having computer readable code therein for collecting and delivering wage assignment information of a person, the computer usable medium comprising:

a first receiving module configured to receive wage assignment information for the person;

a storing module configured to store the wage assignment information in a database at an agency;

a transmitting module configured to transmit the database from the agency to an accumulator;

a collecting module configured to collect the database at the accumulator;

a translating module configured to translate the database into a file with a standardized format, the standardized format includes data stored in at least one data field;

a batching module configured to batch the standardized format file based at least on the data stored in the one data field;

a delivering module configured to deliver the batched standardized format file to a recipient;

a second receiving module configured to receive at the recipient the batched standardized format file; and

a processing module configured to process the standardized format file to initiate the wage assignment.

29. A system for collecting and delivering a plurality of wage assignment information representing child support payments for a plurality of noncustodial parents, comprising:

a generating component configured to generate wage assignment information for a noncustodial parent;

a storing component configured to store the wage assignment information in a file in a database at a state entity;

a transmitting component configured to transmit the database from the state entity to an accumulator;

a collecting component configured to collect a plurality of databases containing files with wage assignment information into a single database at the accumulator;

a translating component configured to translate the files in the single database into electronic data interchange (EDI) files;

a batching component configured to batch the EDI files based on the recipient field;

a delivering component configured to deliver a batched EDI file to each of a plurality of recipients;

a receiving component configured to receive at each recipient a batched EDI file; and

a processing component configured to process the batched EDI file to initiate the wage assignment against a wage of the noncustodial parent.

30. The system of claim 29, where the state entity is a child support department.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the translating component further includes a 521 record set generating component configured to generate EDI files using the 521 record set.

32. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

an identifying a set of translating rules; and

a rules translating component configured to translate the wage assignment information according to the translation rules.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing component includes a payment and disbursement processing component configured to process payments and disbursements.

34. The system of claim 29, where the recipient is an employer.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a certifying component configured to certify the employer.

36. A method of collecting and delivering a plurality of wage assignment information representing child support payments for a plurality of noncustodial parents, comprising the steps, performed by a processor, of:

generating wage assignment information for a noncustodial parent;

storing the wage assignment information in a file in a database at a state entity;

transmitting the database from the state entity to an accumulator;

collecting a plurality of databases containing files with wage assignment information into a single database at the accumulator;

translating the files in the single database into electronic data interchange (EDI) files;

batching the EDI files based on the recipient field;

delivering a batched EDI file to each of a plurality of recipients;

receiving at each recipient a batched EDI file; and

processing the batched EDI file to initiate the wage assignment against a wage of the noncustodial parent.

37. The method of claim 36, where the state entity is a child support department.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the translating step further includes generating EDI files using the 521 record set.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

identifying a set of translating rules; and

translating the wage assignment information according to the translation rules.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the processing step includes payment and disbursement processing.

41. The method of claim 36, where the recipient is an employer.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising certifying the employer.

43. A system for collecting and delivering a plurality of wage assignment information representing child support payments for a plurality of noncustodial parents, comprising:

means for generating wage assignment information for a noncustodial parent;

means for storing the wage assignment information in a file in a database at a state entity;

means for transmitting the database from the state entity to an accumulator;

means for collecting a plurality of databases containing files with wage assignment information into a single database at the accumulator;

means for translating the files in the single database into electronic data interchange (EDI) files;

means for batching the EDI files based on the recipient field;

means for delivering a batched EDI file to each of a plurality of recipients;

means for receiving at each recipient a batched EDI file; and

means for processing the batched EDI file to initiate the wage assignment against a wage of the noncustodial parent.

44. A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for collecting and delivering a plurality of wage assignment information representing child support payments for a plurality of noncustodial parents, the computer usable medium comprising:

a generating module configured to generate wage assignment information for a noncustodial parent;

a storing module configured to store the wage assignment information in a file in a database at a state entity;

a transmitting module configured to transmit the database from the state entity to an accumulator;

a collecting module configured to collect a plurality of databases containing files with wage assignment information into a single database at the accumulator;

a translating module configured to translate the files in the single database into electronic data interchange (EDI) files;

a batching module configured to batch the EDI files based on the recipient field;

a delivering module configured to deliver a batched EDI file to each of a plurality of recipients;

a receiving module configured to receive at each recipient a batched EDI file; and

a processing module configured to process the batched EDI file to initiate the wage assignment against a wage of the noncustodial parent.