WIC check processing with vendor number overlay system and method

• US 8,515,873 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2011
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solutran LLC (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Solutran Incorporated
• Inventors: Hawkins, Kari B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaikh, Mohammad Z
• Application Number:
  US13/090,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20120101947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 45, 235/379, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/45
• 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 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency

Abstract

A system and method of processing paper checks that divides into two independent paths the processing of a data file representing a check and the digital image of the check. The data files and image files are separated both in time and in space. The digital image files are deposited as an image or substitute check if deemed ACH ineligible through image exchange. WIC checks are handled through image exchange. Vendor identifiers required for WIC processing are added to the check after scanning. The system identifies the state of the check and the particular store accepting the check in order to determine where to place the overlay and which vendor identifier to use.

Claims

1. A method for processing WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) checks, comprising:

a) receiving at a computer transaction data relating to a transaction undertaken using a WIC check;

b) receiving at the computer an image of the WIC check, the WIC check having a vendor identifier location with no vendor identifier information at that location;

c) determining by the computer a vendor identifier for the WIC check based upon the transaction data;

d) determining by the computer a state within the United States for the transaction data and further determining the vendor identifier location on the WIC check for the determined state;

e) generating by the computer a graphical image of the vendor identifier;

f) creating a revised image of the WIC check by overlaying the graphical image of the vendor identifier over the image of the WIC check at the determined vendor identifier location; and

g) submitting the revised image of the WIC check through image exchange.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving transaction data relating to a plurality of transactions undertaken using a plurality of WIC checks, and further receiving images of the plurality of WIC checks.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

h) identifying at least one of the plurality of WIC checks as a non-overlay check, the non-overlay check containing a vendor identifier on the check; and

i) submitting the image of the non-overlay check through image exchange without creating a revised image of the non-overlay check.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of identifying at least one of the plurality of WIC checks as a non-overlay check further comprises determining whether the vendor has purchased an overlay service.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of identifying at least one of the plurality of WIC checks as a non-overlay check further comprises determining whether the state for the non-overlay check has not authorized the creation of a revised image.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of WIC checks originate from a plurality of states, wherein at least two states have different vendor identifier locations.