Method and system for processing recurring payments

• US 7,904,388 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Trupia, Paul Gerard, Gniewosz, Dennis J., Striano, Riccardo M., Fogliano, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung; Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tien C
• Application Number:
  US12/778,279
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• Field of Search: 370/392, 400/621, 455/39, 705 30- 45, 705/1, 705/8, 235/735, 345/418, 352/159, 360/246, 380/30, 438/464, 700/99, 715/256
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• 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 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method and system for processing payments may involve receiving a payment file from a paying entity; identifying at least one payee from the payment file; identifying a payment amount for the at least one payee for a contribution based on a pre-existing contract between the paying entity and the at least one payee for recurring payments to the at least one payee; identifying a payment method for the at least one payee from a payee profile; and distributing the payment amount via the payment method to the at least one payee; wherein a group manages the recurring payments for the at least one payee.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for processing payments at a programmed computer processor at a payment engine which communicates via a network, the system comprising:

a paying entity interface configured to an electronic payment file at a payment engine, wherein the electronic payment file is electronically transmitted via the network from a paying entity,

a payment module configured to identify a payee based on information in the electronic payment file, a payment amount for the payee for a payment based on a pre-existing contract between the paying entity and the payee for recurring payments to the payee, and a payment method for the payee based on a payee profile associated with the payee; and

a distribute payment module configured to distribute the payment amount via the payment method to the payee;

wherein the payee is a member of a group, the group managing payments for the payee and other payees, wherein the group is organized of at least one of actors, writers, agents, musicians, contractors, performers, athletes, investors, and corporate entities.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a confirmation module for notifying the at least one payee via en electronic transmission that the payment amount has been distributed via the payment method.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the paying entity is at least one of a movie studio, a television studio, a sponsor, a producer, a marketing organization, a corporation, and an endorsement organization.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the payment file comprises one or more payment instructions from the paying entity.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the payments are associated with at least one of rights, privileges, terms, and conditions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the payments managed by the group are recurring payments.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the payments comprise at least one of residuals, royalties, rewards, winnings, and bonuses.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the payments are placed in at least one of multiple accounts, charitable accounts, and special accounts, and protected account.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the special accounts comprises a protected trust account configured to disburse payments to designated parties comprising at least one of children, beneficiaries, heirs, organizations, and charities.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the payment file is received by the group.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the payees are not members of the group.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the payee is not on a payroll of the paying entity.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the payment method comprises one or more of a direct deposit to one or more accounts, a check payment, a wire transfer, and a card product.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the card product is configured to support a plurality of paying entities.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising an advisor module configured to aggregate data from the group associated with the payee to provide additional information and financial services across a plurality of payee entities.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the group further comprises lottery winners.

17. A computer-implemented method for processing payments, where the method is executed by a programmed computer processor at a payment engine which communicates via a network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic payment file at a payment engine, wherein the electronic payment file is electronically transmitted via the network from a paying entity;

identifying, by the payment engine, a payee based on information in the electronic payment file, a payment amount for the payee for a payment based on a pre-existing contract between the paying entity and the payee for recurring payments to the payee, and a payment method for the payee based on a payee profile associated with the payee; and

distributing the payment amount via the payment method to the payee;

wherein the payee is a member of a group, the group managing payments for the payee and other payees, wherein the group is organized of at least one of actors, writers, agents, musicians, contractors, performers, athletes, investors, and corporate entities.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

notifying the at least one payee via en electronic transmission that the payment amount has been distributed via the payment method.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the paying entity is at least one of a movie studio, a television studio, a sponsor, a producer, a marketing organization, a corporation, and an endorsement organization.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the payment file comprises one or more payment instructions from the paying entity.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the payments are associated with at least one of rights, privileges, terms, and conditions.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the payments managed by the group are recurring payments.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the payments comprise at least one of residuals, royalties, rewards, winnings, and bonuses.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the payments are placed in at least one of multiple accounts, charitable accounts, and special accounts, and protected account.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the special accounts comprises a protected trust account configured to disburse payments to designated parties comprising at least one of children, beneficiaries, heirs, organizations, and charities.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the payment file is received by the group.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the payees are not members of the group.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the payee is not on a payroll of the paying entity.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the payment method comprises one or more of a direct deposit to one or more accounts, a check payment, a wire transfer, and a card product.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the card product is configured to support a plurality of paying entities.

31. The method of claim 17, further comprising aggregating data from the group associated with the payee to provide additional services.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the additional services comprise information and financial services for establishing.

33. The method of claim 17, wherein the group further comprises lottery winners.

34. A computer readable non-transitory medium encoded with computer executable instructions to perform the acts of:

receiving an electronic payment file at a payment engine, wherein the electronic payment file is electronically transmitted via the network from a paying entity;

identifying, by the payment engine, a payee based on information in the electronic payment file, a payment amount for the payee for a payment based on a pre-existing contract between the paying entity and the payee for recurring payments to the payee, and a payment method for the payee based on a payee profile associated with the payee; and

distributing the payment amount via the payment method to the payee;

wherein the payee is a member of a group, the group managing payments for the payee and other payees, wherein the group is organized of at least one of actors, writers, agents, musicians, contractors, performers, athletes, investors, and corporate entities.