System for on-line financial services using distributed objects

• US 20010056475A1
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H&R Block Tax Services LLC (H&R Block, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Block Financial Corporation (H&R Block, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, William P., Geller, Jacob B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,032,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system is disclosed for accessing recent financial information from various financial services providers. The system is based on a client/server architecture so that services are accessible from a variety of presentation tools. Communications between clients and servers are accomplished using “Interfaces” that group operations and attributes for various services. The system uses the TCP/IP protocol suite so financial services are available at any time and from any location.

Claims

1. An on-line financial information service system based on a distributed system architecture, comprising:

at least one financial information server for processing financial information requests;

an identification means for said financial information server;

at least one data server for processing requests for data from said financial information server;

an electronic financial information request from a client comprising an identifier for locating said financial information server in accordance with said identification means for said financial information server;

a server for accepting said electronic financial information request and locating said financial information server in accordance with said identification means for said financial information server; and

a communication link between said client and said financial information server, said communication link established in accordance with said identification means for said financial information server.

2. The system of

claim 1

wherein said identifier is a name for said financial information server.

3. The system of

claim 1

wherein said client and said financial information server communicate in accordance with a binary interface located in accordance with said identification means.

4. The system of

claim 3

wherein said communication link between said client and said financial information server is established in accordance with said binary interface.

5. A system for interfacing a client to one of a plurality of financial information servers, comprising:

an identifier for each one of said plurality of financial information servers;

a server for locating a financial information server in accordance with said identifiers;

a financial information service request from said client;

a first communication link between said client and said server for determining a location for one of said financial information servers associated with one of said identifiers; and

a second communication link between said client and said financial information server said communication link established in accordance with said location for said financial information server.

6. The system of

claim 5

wherein said client and said financial information server communicate in accordance with a binary interface located in accordance with said identifier for said financial information server.

7. The system of

claim 6

wherein said second communication link between said client and said financial information server is established in accordance with said binary interface.

8. A method for processing financial information requests, comprising:

(a) associating a name with each of a plurality of financial information servers;

(b) generating a financial information request, said request generated by a client;

(c) transmitting said financial information request to a name server;

looking up at said name server a location for one of said plurality of financial information servers;

(d) establishing a communication link between said client and a financial information server at said location.

9. The method of

claim 8

wherein the step of establishing a communication link comprises the step of establishing a communication link in accordance with a binary interface between said client and said financial information server at said location.

10. The method of

claim 8

, wherein said financial information request includes a name for said name server.

11. The method of

claim 8

, wherein said financial information request includes a name for a financial information server.

12. A system for processing financial information requests, comprising:

a plurality of financial information objects adapted for processing financial information requests;

a plurality of clients, said clients adapted for communication with said plurality of financial information objects in accordance with a named interface for each of said plurality of financial information objects;

a financial information request from one of said plurality of clients, said financial information request comprising an identifier for locating a named interface for one of said plurality of financial information objects;

a server associated with said identifier for locating one of said plurality of financial information objects in accordance with said named interface for said identifier;

a communication link between said client requesting said financial information and said financial information object associated with said named interface, said communication link established in accordance with said named interface.

13. The system of

claim 12

wherein said named interface is binary.

14. The system of

claim 12

wherein said financial information objects are two or more selected from the group consisting of a bill pay object, a card object, and a checking object.

15. An electronic financial information service system comprising:

a first financial information server;

a second financial information server;

an interface adapted for communication with said first and second financial information server;

a third server for locating said interface; and

a client application adapted to connect to said third server to locate said interface and to communicate with said first and second financial information servers in accordance with said interface.

16. The system of

claim 15

wherein said first and second financial information servers provide the same financial services.

17. The system of

claim 15

wherein said first financial information server provides data from a first financial information services provider and said second financial information server provides data from a second financial information services provider.

18. The system of

claim 15

wherein said first financial information server and said second financial information server provide data from a first financial information services provider.

19. The system of

claim 15

wherein said first financial information server and said second financial information server are operational at geographically independent sites.

20. The system of

claim 15

wherein said first financial information server and said second financial information server are operational at the same site.

21. The system of

claim 15

wherein said client application connects to said third server by naming said third server in a financial information service request.

23. The system of

claim 21

wherein said financial information service request comprises an identifier for a financial institution, an account number, and type of information requested.

25. The system of

claim 15

wherein said client application is selected from the group consisting of Microsoft®

Windows™

applications, browsers, text-terminals applications, X.25 transactions, and telephony applications.

26. The system of

claim 21

wherein said client application is selected from the group consisting of Microsoft®

Windows™

applications, browsers, text-terminals applications, X.25 transactions, and telephony applications.

27. The system of

claim 15

wherein said third server locates said interface in accordance with a name for said first financial information server.

28. The system of

claim 15

wherein said interface is binary.

29. The system of

claim 15

wherein said interface is text-based.

30. The system of

claim 15

wherein said interface is implemented as a class.

31. The system of

claim 15

wherein said interface is an object.

32. The system of

claim 15

wherein said interface groups operations and attributes.

33. The system of

claim 15

wherein said interface is procedural.

34. The system of

claim 15

wherein said first and second financial information servers operate on a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA)-compliant Distributed Object Computing Platform.

35. The system of

claim 15

wherein said client application is adapted to transmit a financial information request directly to said third server.

36. The system of

claim 35

wherein said client application is a Microsoft Windows Application.

37. The system of

claim 15

wherein said client application is adapted to transmit a financial information request through a web server to said third server.

38. The system of

claim 37

wherein said client application is a web browser.

39. The system of

claim 15

wherein said first financial information server is an object selected from the group consisting of a bill pay object, a card object, and a checking object.

40. The system of

claim 15

wherein said second financial information server is an object selected from the group consisting of a bill pay object, a card object, and a checking object.

41. The system of

claim 15

further comprising a first database server adapted to provide financial information to said first financial information server.

42. The system of

claim 41

wherein said database server is a SQL server.

43. The system of

claim 15

further comprising a second interface adapted for communication with said first financial information server.

22. The system of 21 wherein said financial information service request comprises a financial information server name.

24. The system of 23 further comprising a financial information server name in said financial information service request.

44. A method for obtaining financial information comprising:

(a) defining an interface for communication with a first financial information server and a second financial information server;

(b) connecting a client application to a third server to locate said interface;

(c) connecting said client application to said first financial information server in accordance with said interface;

(d) obtaining financial data from said first financial information server in accordance with said interface;

(e) connecting said client application to said second financial information server in accordance with said interface;

(f) obtaining financial data from said second financial information server in accordance with said interface; and

(g) processing at said client application said financial data from said first and second financial information servers.

45. The method of

claim 44

wherein said first and second financial information servers provide the same financial services.

46. The method of

claim 44

wherein said first financial information server provides financial data from a first financial information services provider and said second financial information server provides financial data from a second financial information services provider.

47. The method of

claim 44

wherein said first financial information server and said second financial information server provide financial data from a first financial information services provider.

48. The method of

claim 44

wherein said first financial information server and said second financial information server are operational at geographically independent sites.

49. The method of

claim 44

wherein said first financial information server and said second financial information server are operational at the same site.

50. The method of

claim 44

wherein connecting said client application to said third server comprises connecting said client application to said third server by naming said third server in a financial information service request.

52. The method of

claim 50

wherein said financial information service request comprises an identifier for a financial institution, an account number, and type of information requested.

54. The method of

claim 44

wherein said client application is selected from the group consisting of Microsoft®

Windows™

applications, browsers, text-terminals applications, X.25 transactions, and telephony applications.

55. The method of

claim 50

wherein said client application is selected from the group consisting of Microsoft®

Windows™

applications, browsers, text-terminals applications, X.25 transactions, and telephony applications.

56. The method of

claim 44

wherein connecting a client application to a third server to locate said interface comprises locating said interface in accordance with a name for said first financial information server.

57. The method of

claim 44

wherein said interface is binary.

58. The method of

claim 44

wherein said interface is text-based.

59. The method of

claim 44

wherein said interface is implemented as a class.

60. The method of

claim 44

wherein said interface is an object.

61. The method of

claim 44

wherein said interface groups operations and attributes.

62. The method of

claim 44

wherein said interface is procedural.

63. The method of

claim 44

wherein said first and second financial information servers operate on a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA)-compliant Distributed Object Computing Platform.

64. The method of

claim 44

wherein said client application is adapted to transmit a financial information request directly to said third server.

65. The method of

claim 64

wherein said client application is a Microsoft Windows Application.

66. The method of

claim 44

wherein said client application is adapted to transmit a financial information request through a web server to said third server.

67. The method of

claim 66

wherein said client application is a web browser.

68. The method of

claim 44

wherein said first financial information server is an object selected from the group consisting of a bill pay object, a card object, and a checking object.

69. The method of

claim 44

wherein said second financial information server is an object selected from the group consisting of a bill pay object, a card object, and a checking object.

70. The method of

claim 44

further comprising a first database server adapted to provide financial information to said first financial information server.

71. The method of

claim 70

wherein said database server is a SQL server.

72. The method of

claim 44

further comprising:

(h) defining a second interface adapted for communication with said first financial information server;

(i) connecting said client application to said third server to locate said second interface;

(j) connecting said client application to said first financial information server in accordance with said second interface;

(k) obtaining financial data from said first financial information server in accordance with said second interface; and

(l) displaying at said client application said financial data from said first financial information server.

73. The method of

claim 44

wherein said second interface is selected from the group consisting of binary or text-based interfaces.

51. The method of 50 wherein said financial information service request comprises a financial information server name.

53. The method of 52 further comprising naming a financial information server in said financial information service request.

74. A method for processing financial information requests comprising:

(a) transmitting a financial information request from a client application to a first server;

(b) identifying a financial information server to service said financial information request;

(c) locating at said first server an interface for said financial information server;

(d) connecting said client application to said financial information server in accordance with said interface;

(e) obtaining financial data from said financial information server in accordance with said financial information request;

(f) transmitting said financial data from said financial information server to said client application; and

(g) processing said financial data at said client application.

75. The method of

claim 74

wherein transmitting a financial information request from a client application to a first server comprises transmitting a financial information request from a client application to a name server.

76. The method of

claim 75

wherein identifying a financial information server to service said financial information request comprises performing a look up at said name server to identify said financial information server.

77. The method of

claim 76

wherein performing a look up comprises performing a look up using a name of a financial information server in said financial information request.

78. The method of

claim 74

wherein said financial information request comprises an identifier for a financial institution, an account number, and type of information requested.

79. The method of

claim 77

wherein said financial information request comprises an identifier for a financial institution, an account number, and type of information requested.

80. The method of

claim 74

wherein transmitting a financial information request from a client application to a first server comprises transmitting a financial information request initiated by a financial services provider from a client application to a first server.

81. The method of

claim 74

wherein transmitting a financial information request from a client application to a first server comprises transmitting a financial information request initiated by a financial services customer from a client application to a first server.

82. The method of

claim 74

wherein connecting said client application to said financial information server in accordance with said interface comprises connection said client application to said financial information server in accordance with a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA)-compliant Distributed Object Platform.

83. The method of

claim 74

wherein said client application is selected from the group consisting of Microsoft®

Windows™

applications, browsers, text-terminals applications, X.25 transactions, and telephony applications.

84. The method of

claim 80

wherein said client application is selected from the group consisting of Microsoft®

Windows™

applications, browsers, text-terminals applications, X.25 transactions, and telephony applications.

85. The method of

claim 81

wherein said client application is selected from the group consisting of Microsoft®

Windows™

applications, browsers, text-terminals applications, X.25 transactions, and telephony applications.

86. The method of

claim 74

further comprising:

(i) modifying said interface;

(j) transmitting a second financial information request from said client application to said first server;

(k) connecting said client application to said financial information server in accordance with said modified interface;

(l) obtaining financial data from said financial information server in accordance with said second financial information request;

(m) transmitting said financial data from said financial information server to said client application; and

(n) processing said financial data at said client application.

87. The method of

claim 74

further comprising:

(i) modifying said financial information server;

(j) transmitting a second financial information request from said client application to said first server;

(k) connecting said client application to said modified financial information server in accordance with said interface;

(l) obtaining financial data from said modified financial information server in accordance with said second financial information request;

(m) transmitting said financial data from said modified financial information server to said client application; and

(n) processing said financial data at said client application.

88. The method of

claim 74

further comprising:

(i) defining a second interface for said financial information server;

(j) transmitting a second financial information request from said client application to said first server;

(k) connecting said client application to said financial information server in accordance with said second interface;

(l) obtaining financial data from said financial information server in accordance with said second financial information request;

(m) transmitting said financial data from said financial information server to said client application; and

(n) processing said financial data at said client application.

89. The method of

claim 88

wherein obtaining financial data from said financial information server comprises transmitting financial data from a database server to said financial information server.

90. The method of

claim 89

wherein transmitting financial data from a database server to said financial information server comprises transmitting financial data from a SQL server.

91. The method of

claim 74

further comprising:

(i) defining a second financial information server;

(j) transmitting a second financial information request from said client application to said first server;

(k) connecting said client application to said second financial information server in accordance with said interface;

(l) obtaining financial data from said second financial information server in accordance with said second financial information request;

(m) transmitting said financial data from said second financial information server to said client application; and

(n) processing said financial data at said client application.

92. The method of

claim 74

wherein said interface is binary.

93. The method of

claim 74

wherein said interface is text-based.

94. The method of

claim 74

wherein said interface is implemented as a class.

95. The method of

claim 74

wherein said interface is an object.

96. The method of

claim 74

wherein said interface groups operations and attributes.

97. The method of

claim 74

wherein said interface is procedural.

98. The method of

claim 74

wherein said interface defines an application-level protocol.

99. The method of

claim 74

wherein connecting said client application to said financial information server in accordance with said interface comprises communicating in accordance with synchronous procedure calls.

100. The method of

claim 74

wherein connecting said client application to said financial information server comprises connecting said client application to said financial information server in accordance with TCP/IP protocol.

101. The method of

claim 74

wherein said financial information server is an object selected from the group consisting of a card object, a checking object, and a bill pay object.

102. The method of

claim 74

wherein said financial data comprises credit and debit card, checking account, and bill paying data.