Cash letter print streams with audit data

• US 7,686,209 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Federal Reserve System), Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Federal Reserve System), Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Federal Reserve System), Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (Federal Reserve System)
• Original Assignee: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Federal Reserve System), Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Federal Reserve System), Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Federal Reserve System), Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (Federal Reserve System)
• Inventors: Mueller, Randall Lee, Baggett, Diane Marie, Nori, V. Srinivas, Schaadt, Thomas Edwin, Purser, Steven Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US11/362,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20060191998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 705/1, 705 35- 45, 379/379
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42

Abstract

Producing print streams for efficiently generating properly formatted and ordered paper cash letters comprises print stream file that includes electronic form definitions for each cash letter document. The cash letter documents can include a cover page, one or more bundles of substitute checks, a bundle summary for each substitute check bundle, and/or a cash letter bundle summary. Information from an electronic image cash letter file can be input in data fields of the electronic form definitions. Printing the information in the print stream file results in a properly formatted and ordered paper cash letter including substitute checks and audit data. Each substitute check can include all of the MICR data provided on a corresponding, original paper check. The audit data includes the cover page, bundle summary(ies), and/or cash letter bundle summary, which can each detail the documents printed concurrently therewith.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a paper cash letter, comprising the steps of:

creating a plurality of substitute check records by

identifying a plurality of checks to be included in a substitute check bundle, and, for each identified check,

inputting an electronic image of a front side of the check in a first data field of a substitute check form definition, and

inputting an electronic image of a back side of the check in a second data field of the substitute check form definition;

creating a bundle summary control record by inputting summary information regarding the substitute check bundle into at least one data field of a bundle summary form definition;

storing the substitute check records and the bundle summary control record in a print stream file;

storing an exception report page control record in the print stream file, the exception report page control record comprising exception report information related to at least one of an error in the plurality of substitute check control records and an error in the bundle summary control record; and

generating an instruction that causes a printer to print at least one document based on the print stream file, the at least one document comprising at least one substitute check, each substitute check being associated with one of the substitute check records and comprising each of the electronic images in the associated substitute check record,

wherein each substitute check comprises a legal negotiable instrument according to the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the summary information comprises at least one of a total number of checks in the substitute check bundle, a value of each check in the substitute check bundle, and a total value of the checks in the substitute check bundle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of inputting the summary information comprises the steps of:

identifying the summary information in an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified summary information into the at least one data field of the bundle summary form definition.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of inputting the summary information comprises the steps of:

identifying the summary information in a control record of an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified summary information into the at least one data field of the bundle summary form definition.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

creating a cover page control record by inputting cover page information regarding the substitute check bundle in at least one data field of a cover page form definition; and

storing the cover page control record in the print stream file.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the cover page information comprises at least one of a total number of substitute checks in the substitute check bundle, information identifying a bank transmitting the substitute check bundle, and information identifying a bank receiving the substitute check bundle.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of inputting the cover page information comprises the steps of:

identifying the cover page information in a control record of an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified cover page information in the at least one data field of the cover page form definition.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

creating a cash letter bundle summary control record by inputting cash letter bundle summary information related to the substitute check bundle in at least one data field of a cash letter bundle summary form definition; and

storing the cash letter bundle summary control record in the print stream file.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cash letter bundle summary information comprises a total value of the substitute check bundle.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of inputting the cash letter bundle summary information comprises the steps of:

identifying the cash letter bundle summary information in a control record of an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified cash letter bundle summary information in the at least one data field of the cash letter bundle summary form definition.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

creating a cover page control record by inputting cover page information related to the substitute check bundle in at least one data field of a cover page form definition;

creating a cash letter bundle summary control record by inputting cash letter bundle summary information related to the substitute check bundle in at least one data field of a cash letter bundle summary form definition; and

storing the cover page control record and the cash letter bundle summary control record in the print stream file.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of printing the print stream file on perforated paper such that each substitute check is printed on a separate page of the perforated paper, at least one perforation being disposed between neighboring ones of the substitute checks.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substitute check form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print each substitute check.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bundle summary form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print the summary information.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substitute check form definition comprises a first color designation designating a first color of paper on which to print each substitute check, and the bundle summary form definition comprises a second color designation designating a second color of paper on which to print the summary information.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of creating the exception report page control record by inputting the exception report information in at least one data field of an exception report page form definition.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the instruction causes the printer to print a bundle summary page associated with the bundle summary control record, the bundle summary page comprising at least a portion of the summary information.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the instruction causes the printer to print an exception report page associated with the exception report page control record, the exception report page comprising at least a portion of the exception report information.

19. A system for generating a paper cash letter, comprising:

a print stream form database operable to;

store a substitute check form definition defining at least a first data field and a second data field,

store a bundle summary form definition defining at least a third data field, and

store an exception report page form definition defining at least a fourth data field; and

a check presentment module operable to;

create a plurality of substitute check records by

identifying a plurality of checks to be included in a substitute check bundle, and, for each identified check,

inputting an electronic image of a front side of the check in the first data field, and

inputting an electronic image of a back side of the check in the second data field;

create a bundle summary control record by inputting summary information regarding the substitute check bundle into at least the third data field,

create an exception report page control record by inputting exception report information into at least the fourth data field,

store the substitute check records, the bundle summary control record, and the exception report page control record in a print stream file, and

generate an instruction that causes a printer to print at least one document based on the print stream file, the at least one document comprising at least one substitute check, each substitute check being associated with one of the substitute check records and comprising each of the electronic images in the associated substitute check record,

wherein each substitute check comprises a legal negotiable instrument according to the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the summary information comprises at least one of a total number of checks in the substitute check bundle, a value of each check in the substitute check bundle, and a total value of the checks in the substitute check bundle.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the print stream form database is further operable to store a cover page form definition defining at least a fourth data field;

and

wherein the check presentment module is further operable to;

create a cover page control record by inputting cover page information regarding the substitute check bundle into at least the fourth data field, and

store the cover page control record in the print stream file.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the cover page information comprises at least one of a total number of checks in the substitute check bundle, information identifying a bank transmitting the substitute check bundle, and information identifying a bank receiving the substitute check bundle.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein the print stream form database is further operable to store a cash letter bundle summary form definition defining at least a fourth data field;

and

wherein the check presentment module is further operable to;

create a cash letter bundle summary control record by inputting cash letter bundle summary information regarding the substitute check bundle into at least the fourth data field,

store the cash letter bundle summary control record in the print stream file.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the cash letter bundle summary information comprises a total value of the substitute check bundle.

25. The system according to claim 19, further comprising a printer operable to print the print stream file on perforated paper such that each substitute check is printed on a separate page of the perforated paper, at least one perforation being disposed between neighboring ones of the substitute checks.

26. The system according to claim 19, wherein the substitute check form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print each substitute check.

27. The system according to claim 19, wherein the bundle summary form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print the summary information.

28. The system according to claim 19, wherein the substitute check form definition comprises a first color designation designating a first color of paper on which to print each substitute check, and the bundle summary form definition comprises a second color designation designating a second color of paper on which to print the summary information.

29. The system according to claim 19, wherein the instruction causes the printer to print a bundle summary page associated with the bundle summary control record, the bundle summary page comprising at least a portion of the summary information.

30. The system according to claim 19, wherein the instruction causes the printer to print an exception report page associated with the exception report page control record, the exception report page comprising at least a portion of the exception report information.

31. The system according to claim 19, wherein the exception report information comprises information related to at least one of an error in the plurality of substitute check control records and an error in the bundle summary control record.

32. A computer-implemented method for generating a paper cash letter, comprising the steps of:

creating a plurality of substitute check records by

identifying a plurality of substitute checks to be included in a substitute check bundle, and, for each identified check,

inputting an electronic image of a front side of the check in a first data field of a substitute check form definition, and

inputting an electronic image of a back side of the check in a second data filed of the substitute check form definition;

creating a bundle summary control record by inputting bundle summary information regarding the substitute check bundle into at least one data field of a bundle summary form definition;

creating a cover page control record by inputting cover page information related to the substitute check bundle into at least one data field of a cover page form definition;

storing the plurality of substitute check records, the bundle summary control record, and the cover page control record in the print stream file;

storing an exception report page control record in the print stream file, the exception report page control record comprising exception report information related to at least one of an error in the plurality of substitute check control records, an error in the bundle summary control record, and an error in the cover page control record; and

generating an instruction that causes a printer to print at least one document based on the print stream file, the at least one document comprising at least one substitute check, a bundle summary page, and a cover page, each substitute check being associated with one of the substitute check records and comprising each of the electronic images in the associated substitute check record, the bundle summary page comprising at least a portion of the bundle summary information, and the cover page comprising at least a portion of the cover page information,

wherein each substitute check comprises a legal negotiable instrument according to the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the bundle summary information comprises at least one of a total number of checks in the substitute check bundle, a value of each check in the substitute check bundle, and a total value of the checks in the substitute check bundle.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the step of inputting the bundle summary information comprises the steps of:

identifying the bundle summary information in an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified bundle summary information in the at least one data field of the bundle summary form definition.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein the step of inputting the bundle summary information comprises the steps of:

identifying the bundle summary information in a control record of an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified bundle summary information in the at least one data field of the bundle summary form definition.

36. The method according to claim 32, wherein the step of inputting the substitute check information comprises the steps of:

identifying the substitute check information in a financial data file; and

inputting the identified substitute check information in the at least one data field of the substitute check form definition.

37. The method according to claim 32, wherein the step of inputting the cover page information comprises the steps of:

identifying the cover page information in a control record of an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified cover page information in the at least one data field of the cover page form definition.

38. The method according to claim 32, wherein the cover page information comprises at least one of a total number of checks in the substitute check bundle, information identifying a bank transmitting the substitute check bundle, and information identifying a bank receiving the substitute check bundle.

39. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

creating a cash letter bundle summary control record by

inputting cash letter bundle summary information related to the substitute check bundle in at least one data field of a cash letter bundle summary form definition, and

storing the cash letter bundle summary control record in the print stream file.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the cash letter bundle summary information comprises a total value of the substitute check bundle.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein the step of inputting the cash letter bundle summary information comprises the steps of:

identifying the cash letter bundle summary information in a control record of an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified cash letter bundle summary information in the at least one data field of the cash letter bundle summary form definition.

42. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of printing the print stream file on perforated paper such that each substitute check is printed on a separate page of the perforated paper, at least one perforation being disposed between neighboring ones of the substitute checks.

43. The method according to claim 32, wherein the substitute check form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print each substitute check.

44. The method according to claim 32, wherein the bundle summary form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print the bundle summary page.

45. The method according to claim 32, wherein the cover page form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print the cover page.

46. The method according to claim 32, wherein the substitute check form definition comprises a first color designation designating a first color of paper on which to print each substitute check, the bundle summary form definition comprises a second color designation designating a second color of paper on which to print the bundle summary page, and the cover page form definition comprises a third color designation designating a third color of paper on which to print the cover page.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the second color designation is the same as the third color designation, and the first color designation is different than each of the second color designation and the third color designation.

48. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of creating the exception report page control record by inputting the exception report information in an exception report page form definition defining format and content of an exception report page of the cash letter,

wherein the instruction causes the printer to print an exception report page associated with the exception report page control record, the exception report page comprising at least a portion of the exception report information.

49. The method according to claim 32, wherein the instruction causes the printer to print an exception report page associated with the exception report page control record, the exception report page comprising at least a portion of the exception report information.

50. A system for generating a cash letter print stream, comprising:

a print stream form database operable to;

store a substitute check form definition defining format and content of a substitute check document of a cash letter,

store a bundle summary form definition defining format and content of a bundle summary document of the cash letter,

store a cover page form definition defining format and content of a cover page document of the cash letter, and

store an exception report page form definition defining format and content of an exception report page document of the cash letter; and

a check presentment module operable to;

create a plurality of substitute check records by

identifying a plurality of checks to be included in a substitute check bundle, and, for each identified check, inputting an electronic image of a front side of the check and an electronic image of a back side of the check in the substitute check form definition,

create a bundle summary control record by inputting bundle summary information regarding the substitute check bundle into the bundle summary form definition,

create a cover page control record by inputting cover page information related to the substitute check bundle into the cover page form definition,

create an exception report page control record by inputting exception report information in the exception report page form definition, the exception report information comprising information related to at least one of an error in the cover page control record, an error in the plurality of substitute check control records, and an error in the bundle summary control record,

store the plurality of substitute check records, the bundle summary control record, the cover page control record, and the exception report page control record in a print stream file, and

generate an instruction that causes a printer to print at least one document based on the print stream file, the at least one document comprising at least one substitute check, a bundle summary page, and a cover page, each substitute check being associated with one of the substitute check records and comprising each of the electronic images in the associated substitute check record, the bundle summary page comprising at least a portion of the bundle summary information, and the cover page comprising at least a portion of the cover page information,

wherein each substitute check comprises a legal negotiable instrument according to the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act.

51. The system according to claim 50, wherein the bundle summary information comprises at least one of a total number of checks in the substitute check bundle, a value of each check in the substitute check bundle, and a total value of the checks in the substitute check bundle.

52. The system according to claim 50, wherein the cover page information comprises at least one of a total number of checks in the substitute check bundle, information identifying a bank transmitting the substitute check bundle, and information identifying a bank receiving the substitute check bundle.

53. The system according to claim 50, wherein the print stream form database is further operable to store a cash letter bundle summary form definition defining format and content of a cash letter bundle summary document of the cash letter;

and

wherein the check presentment module is further operable to;

create a cash letter bundle summary control record by inputting cash letter bundle summary information related to the substitute check bundle in the cash letter bundle summary form definition, and

store the cash letter bundle summary control record in the print stream file.

54. The system according to claim 53, wherein the cash letter bundle summary information comprises a total value of the substitute check bundle.

55. The system according to claim 50, further comprising a printer operable to print the print stream file on perforated paper such that each substitute check is printed on a separate page of the perforated paper, at least one perforation being disposed between neighboring ones of the substitute checks.

56. The system according to claim 50, wherein the substitute check form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print each substitute check information.

57. The system according to claim 50, wherein the bundle summary form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print the bundle summary information.

58. The system according to claim 50, wherein the cover page form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print the cover page information.

59. The system according to claim 50, wherein the substitute check form definition comprises a first color designation designating a first color of paper on which to print each substitute check, the bundle summary form definition comprises a second color designation designating a second color of paper on which to print the bundle summary information, and the cover page form definition comprises a third color designation designating a third color of paper on which to print the cover page information.

60. The system according to claim 59, wherein the second color designation is the same as the third color designation, and the first color designation is different than each of the second color designation and the third color designation.

61. The system according to claim 50, wherein the instruction causes the printer to print an exception report page associated with the exception report page control record, the exception report page comprising at least a portion of the exception report information.

62. A computer-implemented method for generating a paper cash letter, comprising the steps of:

creating a plurality of substitute check records by

identifying a plurality of checks to be included in a substitute check bundle, and, for each identified check,

inputting an electronic image of a front side of the check in a first data field of a substitute check form definition, and

inputting an electronic image of a back side of the check in a second data field of the substitute check form definition;

creating a bundle summary control record by inputting bundle summary information regarding the substitute check bundle into at least one data field of a bundle summary form definition;

creating a cover page control record by inputting cover page information related to the substitute check bundle into at least one data field of a cover page form definition;

creating a cash letter bundle summary control record by inputting cash letter bundle summary information related to the substitute check bundle into at least one data field of a cash letter bundle summary form definition;

storing the plurality of substitute check records, the bundle summary control record, the cover page control record, and the cash letter bundle summary control record in a print stream file;

storing an exception report page control record in the print stream file, the exception report page control record comprising exception report information related to at least one of an error in the cover page control record, an error in the plurality of substitute check control records, an error in the bundle summary control record, and an error in the cash letter bundle summary control record; and

generating an instruction that causes a printer to print at least one document based on the print stream file, the at least one document comprising at least one substitute check, a bundle summary page, a cover page, and a cash letter bundle summary page, each substitute check being associated with one of the substitute check records and comprising each of the electronic images in the associated substitute check record, the bundle summary page comprising at least a portion of the bundle summary information, the cover page comprising at least a portion of the cover page information, and the cash letter bundle summary page comprising at least a portion of the cash letter bundle summary information,

wherein each substitute check comprises a legal negotiable instrument according to the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein the bundle summary information comprises at least one of a total number of checks in the substitute check bundle, a value of each check in the substitute check bundle, and a total value of the checks in the substitute check bundle.

64. The method according to claim 62, wherein the step of inputting the bundle summary information comprises the steps of:

identifying the bundle summary information in an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified bundle summary information in the at least one data field of the bundle summary form definition.

65. The method according to claim 62, wherein the step of inputting the bundle summary information comprises the steps of:

identifying the bundle summary information in a control record of an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified bundle summary information in the at least one data field of the bundle summary form definition.

66. The method according to claim 62, wherein the step of inputting the cover page information comprises the steps of:

identifying the cover page information in a control record of an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified cover page information in the at least one data field of the cover page form definition.

67. The method according to claim 62, wherein the cover page information comprises at least one of a total number of checks in the substitute check bundle, information identifying a bank transmitting the substitute check bundle, and information identifying a bank receiving the substitute check bundle.

68. The method according to claim 62, wherein the cash letter bundle summary information comprises a total value of the substitute check bundle.

69. The method according to claim 62, wherein the step of inputting the cash letter bundle summary information comprises the steps of:

identifying the cash letter bundle summary information in a control record of an image cash letter file; and

inputting the identified cash letter bundle summary information in the at least one data field of the cash letter bundle summary form definition.

70. The method according to claim 62, further comprising the step of printing the print stream file on perforated paper such that each substitute check is printed on a separate page of the perforated paper, at least one perforation being disposed between neighboring ones of the substitute checks.

71. The method according to claim 62, wherein the substitute check form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print each substitute check.

72. The method according to claim 62, wherein the bundle summary form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print the bundle summary information.

73. The method according to claim 62, wherein the cover page form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print the cover page information.

74. The method according to claim 62, wherein the cash letter bundle summary form definition comprises a color designation designating a color of paper on which to print the cash letter bundle summary information.

75. The method according to claim 62, wherein the substitute check form definition comprises a first color designation designating a first color of paper on which to print each substitute check, the bundle summary form definition comprises a second color designation designating a second color of paper on which to print the bundle summary information, the cover page form definition comprises a third color designation designating a third color of paper on which to print the cover page information, and the cash letter bundle summary form definition comprises a fourth color designation designating a fourth color of paper on which to print the cash letter bundle summary information.

76. The method according to claim 75, wherein the second color designation, the third color designation, and the fourth color designation are all the same, and the first color designation is different than each of the second color designation, the third color designation, and the fourth color designation.

77. The method according to claim 62, further comprising the steps of:

creating an exception report page form definition defining format and content of an exception report page of the cash letter; and

creating the exception report page control record by inputting the exception report information in the exception report page form definition.

78. The method according to claim 62, wherein the instruction causes the printer to print an exception report page associated with the exception report page control record, the exception report page comprising at least a portion of the exception report information.