Electronic payment clearing and check image exchange systems and methods

• US 10,636,018 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2017
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Clearing House Payments Company LLC (The Clearing House LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Clearing House Payments Company LLC (The Clearing House LLC)
• Inventors: Dunn, John P., Ledford, Stephen, Jackson, Steve H., Wood, Albert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apple, Kirsten S
• Application Number:
  US15/711,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20180012200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• 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 20/0425 the cheque being electronic only
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems

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.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of first entities, each first entity communicatively connected to at least one distributed traffic agent (DTA);

a second entity communicatively connected to a DTA; and

a first communication network communicatively connecting the DTAs, wherein a payload containing a data file is communicated from at least one of said plurality of first entities to another of said plurality of first entities through their respective DTAs via said first communication network, the data file including electronic check presentment data or electronic payment data, wherein in response to at least one of the respective DTAs receiving the data file, the at least one DTA automatically converts the data file according to a network protocol that is distinct from a network protocol used by the at least one DTA to transmit data files, wherein a transmittal containing control information corresponding to the payload is communicated from said at least one first entity to said second entity through their respective DTAs via said first communication network, wherein the DTA communicatively connected to said at least one first entity is responsive to receiving the transmittal by automatically forwarding the transmittal to the DTA communicatively connected to said second entity, the DTA communicatively connected to said second entity is responsive to receiving the transmittal by automatically forwarding the transmittal to said second entity, and wherein at least one of the DTAs comprises a server computer.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said second entity is a central facility, and the central facility provides to the DTA communicatively connected to the at least one first entity, routing information for the control information.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transmittal is also communicated from said at least one first entity to said another first entity through their respective DTAs via said first communication network.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein processing notification messages are communicated among said at least one first entity and said another first entity and said second entity through their respective DTAs via said first communication network.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first entities are banks, and said second entity is a central facility.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said second entity has a web view server, and said at least one first entity and said another first entity have web view clients, the web view server and web view clients communicatively connected via a second communication network.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said first communication network is a private communication network, and said second communication network is the Internet.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control information is determined based on the data file.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second entity is a central facility, and wherein the central facility reconciles the control information with the data file.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data file includes a cash letter.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cash letter is without check image data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the data file includes a cash letter and check image data.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the distributed traffic agent (DTA) comprises:

an input module and an output module configured to communicate the data file;

a network address module configured to obtain a network address of at least one of the first entities; and

a network interface module configured to convert the data file.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the network address module is configured to obtain a routing number based on the network address.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the network address module obtains the routing number from the second entity, and wherein the second entity is a central facility.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the data file comprises an electronic check letter that lists check information for checks.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the data file has an assigned priority order specifying an order in which the data file is processed at one of the first entities.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the network protocols is in accordance with a protocol of the first communication network.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the network protocols is in accordance with a protocol of one of the first entities.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the DTA communicatively connected to said at least one first entity forwards to said at least one first entity a confirmation that the payload has been communicated.