System and method for negotiable instrument cashing transaction assistance procedures

• US 7,753,268 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valsoft Corp., Inc. (Valsef Group)
• Original Assignee: Phoenix Check Cashing, Inc. (Valsef Group)
• Inventors: Corwin, Daniel J., Goff, Tennille V., Watson, Timothy Neil, Robinson, Timothy L., Schildt, Bradford R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US11/217,303
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 705/43, 705/44, 705/45
• US Class Current: 235/383
• 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 20/40 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions

Abstract

A system and method of assistance procedures that involve a negotiable instrument casher in the negotiable instrument validity determination process. The present invention involves the casher in the determining process by providing a walkthrough and network assistance procedures.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a negotiable instrument cashing transaction, the method comprising:

receiving, via a negotiable instrument cashing system, information related to a negotiable instrument presented to a casher for cashing;

evaluating the negotiable instrument information using one or more system parameters, wherein said system parameters indicate the acceptability of said negotiable instrument, wherein said system parameters pertain to information other than negotiable instrument presenter information;

if the evaluation yields an inconclusive result, automatically displaying an assistance instruction to said casher in a user interface of said negotiable instrument cashing system, said user interface including a field that enables said casher to indicate a completion of said assistance instruction upon acquisition of additional information related to said negotiable instrument;

determining whether said assistance instruction has been satisfactorily completed; and

concluding the negotiable instrument cashing transaction according to said determination.

2. A method for assisting a negotiable instrument cashing transaction, the method comprising:

receiving, via a negotiable instrument cashing system, information related to a negotiable instrument presented to a casher for cashing;

evaluating the negotiable instrument information using one or more system parameters, wherein said system parameters indicate the acceptability of said negotiable instrument, wherein said system parameters pertain to information other than negotiable instrument presenter information;

if the evaluation yields an inconclusive result, automatically initiating an assistance procedure in said negotiable instrument cashing system that instructs said casher to acquire additional information related to said negotiable instrument;

receiving, via said negotiable instrument cashing system, said additional information related to said negotiable instrument;

determining whether said additional negotiable instrument information conflicts with one or more system parameters; and

concluding the negotiable instrument cashing transaction according to said determination.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said negotiable instrument information comprises one or more of a negotiable instrument image, negotiable instrument maker data, negotiable instrument account information, and negotiable instrument amount.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said system parameters are one or more of a time of day, a day of the week, negotiable instrument casher information, negotiable instrument maker information, and negotiable instrument amount.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said concluding comprises one of accepting said negotiable instrument for cashing or declining said negotiable instrument for cashing.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting negotiable instrument-related information to a network of individuals who can provide assistance with said negotiable instrument cashing transaction.

7. A method for providing assistance for a negotiable instrument cashing transaction from a remote location, the method comprising:

receiving, via a negotiable instrument cashing assistance system, information related to a negotiable instrument presented to a casher for cashing;

evaluating the negotiable instrument information using one or more system parameters, wherein the one or more system parameters pertain to information other than negotiable instrument presenter information;

transmitting said negotiable instrument information to a network, wherein said network includes at least one authorized individual;

receiving from said authorized individual instruction regarding the determination of said negotiable instrument'"'"'s validity; and

conveying said instruction to said casher via said network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said transmitted negotiable instrument information is assigned a priority status based upon the urgency of the request.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said authorized individual is one of a casher and a representative of said negotiable instrument cashing assistance system.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said authorized individual is selected by a network intermediary.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said authorized individual receives an incentive to provide said instruction.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising prompting said authorized individual to review said negotiable instrument information.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising selecting said authorized individual based upon eligibility.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein said conveying is accomplished via one or more of real-time text communication, email, telephone, fax, voice over internet protocol, and video.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing a record of said authorized individual instruction.

16. A method of providing assistance for a negotiable instrument cashing transaction via a network, the method comprising:

receiving identifying information from an individual at a system station;

authorizing said individual to access a negotiable instrument cashing system network per said identifying information;

determining said individual'"'"'s eligibility to provide assistance to a user of said network, said determination being based on an analysis of a negotiable instrument cashing system rating associated with said individual;

displaying via said network said individual'"'"'s availability to provide assistance to said user;

receiving a request from said user for said individual to provide negotiable instrument cashing transaction assistance, and

enabling said individual to provide negotiable instrument cashing transaction assistance to said user via said network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said negotiable instrument cashing system rating is determined by one or more of said individual'"'"'s negotiable instrument cashing experience, management level, certification, individual feedback, negotiable instrument cashing transaction history, negotiable instrument cashing transaction assistance history, and extent of system use.

18. A method for configuring a negotiable instrument cashing system, the method comprising:

receiving identifying information from an individual;

authorizing said individual to access one or more regional parameters per said identifying information, wherein a regional parameter enables customization of one or more conditions for negotiable instrument cashing at one or more negotiable instrument cashing stations corresponding to an identified region, wherein said one or more conditions for negotiable instrument cashing include a condition not pertaining to the identity of a presenter of a negotiable instrument;

configuring one or more of said regional parameters per said individual'"'"'s input; and

automatically updating one or more negotiable instrument cashing stations per said configured regional parameters.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said regional parameters designate one or more of a geographic identifier and a casher identifier.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising notifying a casher of said updating.