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

• US 7,072,909 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ACS State & Local Solutions Incorporated (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ACS State & Local Solutions Incorporated (Conduent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Polk, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu, Kuen S.
• Application Number:
  US10/155,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/1, 707/3, 705/40
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A data processing system for processing a wage assignment of a person from an initiator to an accumulator and then to a recipient, comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive the wage assignment at the initiator;

a dispatching component configured to dispatch the wage assignment from the initiator to the accumulator;

a processing component configured to process the wage assignment at the accumulator, wherein the processing component includes;

a collecting component configured to collect the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

a translating component configured to translate the collected 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 containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients; and

an implementing component configured to implement the wage assignment at the recipient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving component includes an inputting component configured to input the wage assignment into a database.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the main dispatching component further includes a subordinate dispatching component configured to dispatch an ASCII file.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the translating component further includes a generating component configured to generate an electronic data interchange (EDI) file corresponding to each wage assignment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the main translating component comprises:

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

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

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the transmitting component includes an EDI batch file delivering component configured to deliver an EDI batch file to each recipient.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the main implementing component includes a subordinate implementing component configured to implement a wage assignment for each wage assignment contained in the batch file.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the main implementing component includes a subordinate implementing component configured to implement a wage assignment for each wage assignment contained within the batch EDI file.

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

10. The system of claim 4, further comprising a certifying component configured to certify the recipient.

11. A computer-implemented method of processing a wage assignment of a person from an initiator to an accumulator and then to a recipient, the method, performed by at least one data processor, comprising:

receiving the wage assignment at the initiator;

dispatching the wage assignment from the initiator to the accumulator;

processing the wage assignment at the accumulator, wherein the processing further includes;

collecting the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

translating the collected 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 containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients; and

implementing the wage assignment at the recipient.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving includes inputting the wage assignment into a database.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein dispatching further includes dispatching an ASCII file.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein translating further includes generating an electronic data interchange (EDI) file corresponding to each wage assignment.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein translating comprises:

identifying a set of translation rules; and

translating the wage assignment according to the translation rules.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting includes delivering an EDI batch file to each recipient.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein implementing includes implementing a wage assignment for each wage assignment contained in the batch file.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein implementing includes implementing a wage assignment for each wage assignment contained within the EDI batch file.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein generating an EDI file further includes utilizing the 521 record set.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising certifying the recipient.

21. A data processing system for processing a wage assignment of a person from an initiator to an accumulator and then to a recipient, comprising:

means for receiving the wage assignment at the initiator;

means for dispatching the wage assignment from the initiator to the accumulator;

means for processing the wage assignment at the accumulator, wherein the processing means further includes;

means for collecting the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

means for translating the collected 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 containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients; and

means for implementing the wage assignment at the recipient.

22. A computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing a wage assignment of a person from an initiator to an accumulator and then to a recipient, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive the wage assignment at the initiator;

a dispatching module configured to dispatch the wage assignment from the initiator to the accumulator;

a processing module configured to process the wage assignment at the accumulator, wherein the processing module further includes;

a collecting module configured to collect the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

a translating module configured to translate the collected 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 containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients; and

an implementing module configured to implement the wage assignment at the recipient.

23. A data processor at an initiator, the data processor comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive a wage assignment;

an inputting component configured to input the wage assignment into a database; and

a transmitting component configured to transmit the wage assignment to an accumulator, the accumulator comprising;

a collecting component configured to collect the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

a translating component configured to translate the collected 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 containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients; and

an implementing component configured to implement the wage assignment at the recipient.

24. The data processor of claim 23, wherein the receiving component includes a paper accessing component configured to access a paper wage assignment.

25. The data processor of claim 23, wherein the receiving component includes an electronic accessing component configured to access an electronic wage assignment.

26. The data processor of claim 23, wherein the inputting component includes a using component configured to use an optical character reader.

27. The data processor of claim 23, wherein the main transmitting component includes a subordinate transmitting component configured to transmit at least one of FTP, Internet, tape, and diskette.

28. The data processor of claim 23, further comprising a converting component configured to convert the wage assignment into an ASCII file.

29. A computer-implemented method of processing a wage assignment at an initiator, the method, performed by a data processor, comprising:

receiving the wage assignment;

inputting the wage assignment into a database; and

transmitting the wage assignment to an accumulator, wherein the accumulator performs the steps of;

collecting the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

translating the collected 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,

delivering a batch file containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients; and

implementing the wage assignment at the recipient.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein receiving includes accessing a paper wage assignment.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein receiving includes accessing an electronic wage assignment.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein inputting includes using an optical character reader.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein transmitting includes transmitting by at least one of FTP, Internet, tape, and diskette.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising converting the wage assignment into an ASCII file.

35. A data processor at an initiator, comprising:

means for receiving the wage assignment;

means for inputting the wage assignment into a database; and

means for transmitting the wage assignment to an accumulator, the accumulator comprising;

means for collecting the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

means for translating the collected 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,

means for delivering a batch file containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients; and

means for implementing the wage assignment at the recipient.

36. A computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing a wage assignment at an initiator, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive a wage assignment;

an inputting module configured to input the wage assignment into a database; and

a transmitting module configured to transmit the wage assignment to an accumulator,

the accumulator comprising;

a collecting module configured to collect the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

a translating module configured to translate the collected 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,

a delivering module configured to deliver a batch file containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients; and

a module configured to implement the wage assignment at the recipient.

37. A data processor at a recipient, comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive a wage assignment from an accumulator, the accumulator comprising;

a collecting component configured to collect the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

a translating component configured to translate the collected 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 containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients;

a processing component configured to process the wage assignment; and

an implementing component configured to implement the wage assignment against a wage of an employee.

38. The data processor of claim 37, wherein the main receiving component includes a subordinate receiving component configured to receive a paper wage assignment.

39. The data processor of claim 37, wherein the main receiving component includes a subordinate receiving component configured to receive an electronic wage assignment.

40. The data processor of claim 39, wherein the subordinate receiving component includes an accessing component configured to access an EDI file.

41. The data processor of claim 39, wherein the subordinate receiving component includes an accessing component configured to access a batched EDI file.

42. The data processor of claim 37, wherein the processing component includes a translating component configured to translate the wage assignment into an electronic format.

43. The data processor of claim 37, wherein the implementing component includes a payment and disbursement processing component configured to process payments and disbursements.

44. A computer-implemented method of processing a wage assignment at a recipient, the method, performed by a data processor, comprising:

receiving a wage assignment from an accumulator, wherein the accumulator performs the steps of;

collecting the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

translating the collected 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 containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients;

processing the wage assignment; and

implementing the wage assignment against a wage of an employee.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein receiving includes receiving a paper wage assignment.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein receiving includes receiving an electronic wage assignment.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein receiving includes accessing an EDI file.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein receiving includes accessing a batched EDI file.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein processing includes translating the wage assignment into an electronic form.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein implementing includes payment and disbursement processing.

51. A data processor at a recipient, comprising:

means for receiving a wage assignment from an accumulator, wherein the accumulator comprises;

means for collecting the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators,

means for translating the collected 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 containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients;

means for processing the wage assignment; and

means for implementing the wage assignment against a wage of an employee.

52. A computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing a wage assignment at a recipient, the computer readable code comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive a wage assignment from an accumulator, wherein the accumulator comprises;

a collecting module configured to collect the wage assignment with a plurality of wage assignments from a plurality of initiators, a translating module configured to translate the collected 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 5les 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 containing the wage assignment to one of a plurality of recipients;

a processing module configured to process the wage assignment; and

an implementing module configured to implement the wage assignment against a wage of an employee.