Electronic confirmation to debit or credit an account

• US 7,599,888 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Manfre, Mario P., Schmid, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Jagdish N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMILTON, SARA CHANDLER
• Application Number:
  US09/992,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,883 Days
• Field of Search: 705/44, 705/45
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0425 the cheque being electronic only
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists

Abstract

A method for processing a check transaction includes receiving transaction information that is transmitted by a terminal; determining eligibility of the transaction for payment via a bank account; providing an electronic authorization response that is transmitted to the terminal, the authorization response including a unique transaction identifier if the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account; and receiving an electronic response packet that is transmitted by the terminal if the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account, the response packet including the unique transaction identifier and a transaction decision regarding payment via the bank account.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for processing a check transaction, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, transaction information associated with the check transaction that is transmitted by a terminal;

determining, by the one or more processors, eligibility of the transaction for payment via a bank account;

when the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account;

generating a first unique transaction identifier by the one or more processors and providing, by the one or more processors, an electronic authorization response that is transmitted to the terminal, the authorization response including the first unique transaction identifier;

storing, by the one or more processors, data associated with the electronic authorization response in an authorization response file;

receiving, by the one or more processors, an electronic response packet that is transmitted by the terminal, the response packet including a second unique transaction identifier comprising at least the first unique transaction identifier, and a transaction decision regarding whether or not the check transaction is to proceed with payment via the bank account; and

storing, by the one or more processors, data associated with the electronic response packet in a response packet file;

comparing, by the one or more processors, the response packet file with the authorization response file prior to settling the transaction; and

settling, by the one or more processors, the transaction when data in the response packet file matches data in the authorization response file.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second transaction identifiers include a number.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second transaction identifiers include a letter.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second transaction identifiers include a symbol.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an electronic confirmation of receipt of the response packet that is transmitted to the terminal.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a settlement request from the terminal or a merchant host, and settling the transaction in response to the settlement request.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving a settlement request occurs simultaneously with receiving an electronic response packet.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving a settlement request occurs after receiving an electronic response packet.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining eligibility includes determining eligibility based at least in part on rules associated with one of either an authorization host or a financial institution.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining eligibility includes determining if funds exist in the bank account.

11. A computer system to process a check transaction initiated by a terminal, the computer system comprising:

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions;

a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer executable instructions to;

receive transaction information associated with a check transaction that is transmitted by a terminal;

determine eligibility of the check transaction for payment via a bank account;

when the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account;

generate a first unique transaction identifier;

provide an electronic authorization response that is communicated to the terminal, the authorization response including the first unique transaction identifier;

store data associated with the electronic authorization response in an authorization response file;

receive an electronic response packet provided by the terminal, the response packet including a second unique transaction identifier comprising at least the first unique transaction identifier, and a transaction decision regarding whether or not the check transaction is to proceed with payment via the bank account; and

store data associated with the electronic response packet in a response packet file;

compare the response packet file with the authorization response file prior to settling the transaction; and

settle the transaction when data in the electronic response packet matches data in the authorization response file.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to provide an electronic confirmation of receipt of the response packet to the terminal.

13. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the computer-executable instructions are further operable to determine eligibility based on rules of one of an authorization host and a financial institution.

14. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the computer-executable instructions to determine eligibility include instructions for determining if funds exist in the bank account.

15. A computer-implemented method for processing a check transaction, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, transaction information associated with the check transaction that is transmitted by a terminal;

determining, by the one or more processors, eligibility of the transaction for payment via a bank account, wherein determining eligibility is based at least in part on rules provided by either an authorization host or a financial institution;

when the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account;

generating a first unique transaction identifier by the one or more processors and providing, by the one or more processors, an electronic authorization response that is transmitted to the terminal, the authorization response including the first unique transaction identifier;

storing, by the one or more processors, data associated with the electronic authorization response in an authorization response file;

receiving, by the one or more processors, an electronic response packet that is transmitted by the terminal, the response packet including a second unique transaction identifier comprising at least the first unique transaction identifier, and a transaction decision regarding whether or not the check transaction is to proceed with payment via the bank account;

storing, by the one or more processors, data associated with the electronic response packet in a response packet file; and

receiving, by the one or more processors, a settlement request from the terminal or a merchant host;

comparing, by the one or more processors, the response packet file with the authorization response file prior to settling the transaction; and

settling, by the one or more processors, the transaction in response to the settlement request when data in the response packet file matches data in the authorization response file.

16. A computer-implemented method for processing a check transaction, the method comprising:

receiving by one or more processors, transaction information associated with the check transaction that is transmitted by a terminal;

determining, by the one or more processors, eligibility of the transaction for payment via a bank account;

upon determining the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account;

generating a first unique transaction identifier by the one or more processors and providing, by the one or more processors, an electronic authorization response that is transmitted to the terminal, the authorization response including the first unique transaction identifier;

storing, by the one or more processors, data associated with the electronic authorization response in an authorization response file;

receiving, by the one or more processors, an electronic response packet that is transmitted by the terminal, the response packet including a second unique transaction identifier comprising at least the first unique transaction identifier, and a transaction decision regarding whether or not the check transaction is to proceed with payment via the bank account; and

storing, by the one or more processors, data associated with the electronic response packet in a response packet file;

comparing, by the one or more processors, the response packet file with the authorization response file prior to settling the transaction; and

settling, by the one or more processors, the transaction when data in the response packet file matches data in the authorization response file.

17. A computer-implemented method for processing a check transaction, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, transaction information associated with the check transaction that is transmitted by a terminal;

determining, by the one or more processors, eligibility of the transaction for payment via a bank account, wherein determining eligibility is based at least in part on rules provided by either an authorization host or a financial institution;

upon determining the transaction is eligible for payment via the bank account;

generating a first unique transaction identifier by the one or more processors and providing, by the one or more processors, an electronic authorization response that is transmitted to the terminal, the authorization response including the first unique transaction identifier;

storing, by the one or more processors, data associated with the electronic authorization response in an authorization response file;

receiving, by the one or more processors, an electronic response packet that is transmitted by the terminal, the response packet including a second unique transaction identifier comprising at least the first unique transaction identifier, and a transaction decision regarding whether or not the check transaction is to proceed with payment via the bank account; and

storing, by the one or more processors, data associated with the electronic response packet in a response packet file;

comparing, by the one or more processors, the response packet file with the authorization response file prior to settling the transaction;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a settlement request from the terminal or a merchant host; and

settling, by the one or more processors, the transaction in response to the settlement request from the terminal or a merchant host when data in the response packet file matches data in the authorization response file.