Electronic payment clearing and check image exchange systems and methods
First Claim
1. A method for distributing data from a computer system of a host bank in an electronic check presentment (ECP) system in which ECP data are exchanged between the host bank and a plurality of other banks via packets communicated over a network, the method comprising:
- providing a first distributed traffic agent (DTA) that is in communication with (i) a computer system of the host bank, and (ii) at least one second DTA associated with at least one destination bank;
accepting, in a network interface module of the first DTA, an outgoing ECP data file from the computer system of the host bank, the outgoing ECP data file containing ECP data destined for the at least one destination bank, wherein the ECP data in the outgoing ECP data file comprises check image data;
converting, by the network interface module of the first DTA, the outgoing ECP data file into first packets;
transmitting the first packets via the network to the at least one second DTA associated with the at least one destination bank;
receiving, in the network interface module of the first DTA, second packets from an originating bank via the network;
converting, by the network interface module of the first DTA, the second packets into an incoming ECP data file, the incoming ECP data file containing ECP data,wherein both the outgoing and incoming ECP data files comprise data arranged in the same, standard ECP data file format; and
passing the incoming ECP data file, by the first DTA, to the computer system of the host bank,wherein the network interface module of the first DTA converts the outgoing ECP data file into the first packets according to a first, network protocol that is distinct from a second protocol used by the network interface module to convert the second packets into the incoming ECP data file, andwherein the first DTA and the at least one second DTA are not a central switch of a hub and spoke configuration.
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Abstract
A system and corresponding method are provided. The system includes a plurality of first entities (such as banks), each first entity communicatively connected to at least one distributed traffic agent (DTA), a second entity (such as a central facility) communicatively connected to a DTA, and a communication network communicatively connecting the DTAs. A payload containing a data file (such as electronic check presentment data, electronic payment data, or any other data type) is communicated from one first entity to another through their respective DTAs via the communication network. In addition, a transmittal containing control information corresponding to the payload is communicated from the one first entity to the second entity through their respective DTAs via the communication network.
538 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for distributing data from a computer system of a host bank in an electronic check presentment (ECP) system in which ECP data are exchanged between the host bank and a plurality of other banks via packets communicated over a network, the method comprising:
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providing a first distributed traffic agent (DTA) that is in communication with (i) a computer system of the host bank, and (ii) at least one second DTA associated with at least one destination bank; accepting, in a network interface module of the first DTA, an outgoing ECP data file from the computer system of the host bank, the outgoing ECP data file containing ECP data destined for the at least one destination bank, wherein the ECP data in the outgoing ECP data file comprises check image data; converting, by the network interface module of the first DTA, the outgoing ECP data file into first packets; transmitting the first packets via the network to the at least one second DTA associated with the at least one destination bank; receiving, in the network interface module of the first DTA, second packets from an originating bank via the network; converting, by the network interface module of the first DTA, the second packets into an incoming ECP data file, the incoming ECP data file containing ECP data, wherein both the outgoing and incoming ECP data files comprise data arranged in the same, standard ECP data file format; and passing the incoming ECP data file, by the first DTA, to the computer system of the host bank, wherein the network interface module of the first DTA converts the outgoing ECP data file into the first packets according to a first, network protocol that is distinct from a second protocol used by the network interface module to convert the second packets into the incoming ECP data file, and wherein the first DTA and the at least one second DTA are not a central switch of a hub and spoke configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for distributing data from a computer system of a host bank in an electronic payment (EP) system in which EP data are exchanged between the host bank and a plurality of other banks via packets communicated over a network, the method comprising:
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providing a first distributed traffic agent (DTA) that is in communication with (i) a computer system of the host bank, and (ii) at least one second DTA associated with at least one destination bank; accepting, in a network interface module of the first DTA, an outgoing EP data file from the computer system of the host bank, the outgoing EP data file containing EP data destined for the at least one destination bank; converting, by the network interface module of the first DTA, the outgoing EP data file into first packets; transmitting the first packets via the network to the at least one second DTA associated with the at least one destination bank; receiving, in the network interface module of the first DTA, second packets from an originating bank via the network; converting, by the network interface module of the first DTA, the second packets into an incoming EP data file, the incoming EP data file containing EP data, wherein both the outgoing and incoming EP data files comprise data arranged in the same, standard EP data file format; and passing the incoming EP data file, by the first DTA, to the computer system of the host bank, wherein the network interface module of the first DTA converts the outgoing EP data file into the first packets according to a first, network protocol that is distinct from a second protocol used by the network interface module to convert the second packets into the incoming EP data file, and wherein the first DTA and the at least one second DTA are not a central switch of a hub and spoke configuration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification