Patents Assigned to Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
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Patent number: 8387862Abstract: Validating image cash letter (“ICL”) files using appropriate validation standards for each ICL file and, where appropriate, allowing successfully validated elements of an ICL file containing one or more unsuccessfully validated elements to be processed for payment and/or presentment. A processing entity can receive an ICL file with multiple ICLs that each includes multiple bundles of electronic check items from a customer. The processing entity can validate the ICL file using multiple validation rules selected based on a file type of the ICL file, data content of the ICL file, and/or an identity of a bank associated with the ICL file. The processing entity can transmit a report of the validation results to the customer. The processing entity can select certain successfully validated elements of the ICL file for check presentment and/or payment processing.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2007Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of BostonInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Jeannine M. DeLano, Steven Q. Purser, V. Srinivas Nori, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, Jeffrey F. Schiele, Ronald Ray Mason
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Patent number: 8296223Abstract: Processing duplicate items in image cash letter (“ICL”) reversal files for efficient handling. A duplicate item processing module can receive ICL reversal files comprising items representing duplicate electronic checks. The duplicate item processing module can determine whether the processing entity erroneously presented the item more than once. The duplicate item processing module can also determine whether the depositing institution erroneously deposited the item more than once for processing. Based on the determination of the source of the error, the duplicate item processing module can make a correction in its own records and/or forward the ICL reversal file with the duplicate item to the receiving institution.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2007Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityInventors: Benjamin T. Breeden, Jr., Steven D. Martin, Timothy Rachek, Randall Lee Mueller, V. Srinivas Nori, Daniel A. Maslaney
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Patent number: 8238638Abstract: Efficiently assessing the quality of an electronic check image by determining whether the check image is suitable for image quality analysis prior to performing the image quality analysis. A check processing module of a check processor can determine whether the check image is suitable for image quality analysis by validating certain tags in the image. For example, such validation can include determining whether the check image includes certain mandatory tags and whether any optional tags present in the image are valid. The check processing module can determine that the check image is not suitable for image quality analysis if it does not include the mandatory tags or if it includes any invalid optional tags. The check processing module can assign a failure value to any check image that is not suitable for image quality analysis. The failure value can indicate a reason for the unsuitability of the check image.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of AtlantaInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, Benjamin T. Breeden, Jr., V. Srinivas Nori
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Patent number: 8196814Abstract: Producing print streams for efficiently generating properly formatted and ordered paper cash letters comprises print stream file that includes electronic form definitions for each cash letter document. The cash letter documents can include a cover page, one or more bundles of substitute checks, a bundle summary for each substitute check bundle, and/or a cash letter bundle summary. Information from an electronic image cash letter file can be input in data fields of the electronic form definitions. Printing the information in the print stream file results in a properly formatted and ordered paper cash letter including substitute checks and audit data. Each substitute check can include all of the MICR data provided on a corresponding, original paper check. The audit data includes the cover page, bundle summary(ies), and/or cash letter bundle summary, which can each detail the documents printed concurrently therewith.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2010Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of ClevelandInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, V. Srinivas Nori, Steven Q. Purser, Diane Marie Baggett
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Patent number: 8167196Abstract: Accommodating the data needed to process checks for payment under the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act by using expanded fields of a financial data file. The financial data file can comprise the complete, original MICR data from an original or substitute paper check. The financial data file can comprise truncated data in conventional fields F1-F7 and untruncated data in expanded fields F10-F11. The financial data file further can comprise a result from an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check. The untruncated MICR data and the electronic check image can be used to correct errors in the financial data file and to present the check for payment via a substitute check or an electronic image cash letter. The truncated MICR data can be used to electronically process the check via conventional means.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, V. Srinivas Nori, Steven Q. Purser, Pablo Gonzalez, Bruce D. Herring, James A. Blake
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Patent number: 8032462Abstract: Balancing image cash letters (“ICLs”) and ICL items during electronic check processing includes determining whether each item has been presented to a receiving institution for payment. A tracking module can track an incoming ICL/item's processing status using records comprising information regarding the ICL/item's status for electronic check processing events. The tracking module can present the ICL/item's processing status in one or more reports. The tracking module can balance an ICL by comparing an incoming ICL value amount with an outgoing ICL value amount. The incoming ICL value amount comprises the total value of the items in the incoming ICL. The outgoing ICL value amount comprises the total value of the items in the incoming ICL that have been presented to a receiving institution via one or more outgoing ICLs. If the amounts match, then the incoming ICL is balanced. If not, then the ICL is not balanced.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of DallasInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, Steven Joseph Harris, Eric Lendl, V. Srinivas Nori, Steven Q. Purser
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Patent number: 7802717Abstract: Monitoring an electronic check processing status of an image cash letter (“ICL”) and items in the ICL includes processing each ICL item by performing at least one electronic check processing event in connection with the item. For each electronic check processing event and for each item, a record comprising information related to a status of the electronic check processing event is created. Each record is associated with the corresponding item and the ICL. A status of each item can be determined based on the information stored in the records corresponding to that item. A status of the ICL can be determined based on the status of the items from the ICL.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of ClevelandInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, Steven Joseph Harris, Eric Lendl, V. Srinivas Nori, Steven Q. Purser
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Publication number: 20100176192Abstract: Producing print streams for efficiently generating properly formatted and ordered paper cash letters comprises print stream file that includes electronic form definitions for each cash letter document. The cash letter documents can include a cover page, one or more bundles of substitute checks, a bundle summary for each substitute check bundle, and/or a cash letter bundle summary. Information from an electronic image cash letter file can be input in data fields of the electronic form definitions. Printing the information in the print stream file results in a properly formatted and ordered paper cash letter including substitute checks and audit data. Each substitute check can include all of the MICR data provided on a corresponding, original paper check. The audit data includes the cover page, bundle summary(ies), and/or cash letter bundle summary, which can each detail the documents printed concurrently therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicants: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of ClevelandInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, V. Srinivas Nori, Steven Q. Purser, Diane Marie Baggett
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Patent number: 7686209Abstract: Producing print streams for efficiently generating properly formatted and ordered paper cash letters comprises print stream file that includes electronic form definitions for each cash letter document. The cash letter documents can include a cover page, one or more bundles of substitute checks, a bundle summary for each substitute check bundle, and/or a cash letter bundle summary. Information from an electronic image cash letter file can be input in data fields of the electronic form definitions. Printing the information in the print stream file results in a properly formatted and ordered paper cash letter including substitute checks and audit data. Each substitute check can include all of the MICR data provided on a corresponding, original paper check. The audit data includes the cover page, bundle summary(ies), and/or cash letter bundle summary, which can each detail the documents printed concurrently therewith.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2006Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of ClevelandInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, V. Srinivas Nori, Steven Q. Purser, Diane Marie Baggett
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Patent number: 7594600Abstract: Accommodating the data needed to process checks for payment under the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act by using expanded fields of a financial data file. The financial data file can comprise the complete, original MICR data from an original or substitute paper check. The financial data file can comprise truncated data in conventional fields F1-F7 and untruncated data in expanded fields F10-F11. The financial data file further can comprise a result from an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check. The untruncated MICR data and the electronic check image can be used to correct errors in the financial data file and to present the check for payment via a substitute check or an electronic image cash letter. The truncated MICR data can be used to electronically process the check via conventional means.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2006Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, V. Srinivas Nori, Steven Q. Purser, Pablo Gonzalez, Bruce D. Herring, James A. Blake
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Publication number: 20090236413Abstract: Accommodating the data needed to process checks for payment under the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act by using expanded fields of a financial data file. The financial data file can comprise the complete, original MICR data from an original or substitute paper check. The financial data file can comprise truncated data in conventional fields F1-F7 and untruncated data in expanded fields F10-F1 . The financial data file further can comprise a result from an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check. The untruncated MICR data and the electronic check image can be used to correct errors in the financial data file and to present the check for payment via a substitute check or an electronic image cash letter. The truncated MICR data can be used to electronically process the check via conventional means.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicants: Fedral Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, V. Srinivas Nori, Steven Q. Purser, Pablo Gonzales, Bruce D. Herring, James A. Blake
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Publication number: 20090196485Abstract: Efficiently assessing the quality of an electronic check image by determining whether the check image is suitable for image quality analysis prior to performing the image quality analysis. A check processing module of a check processor can determine whether the check image is suitable for image quality analysis by validating certain tags in the image. For example, such validation can include determining whether the check image includes certain mandatory tags and whether any optional tags present in the image are valid. The check processing module can determine that the check image is not suitable for image quality analysis if it does not include the mandatory tags or if it includes any invalid optional tags. The check processing module can assign a failure value to any check image that is not suitable for image quality analysis. The failure value can indicate a reason for the unsuitability of the check image.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicants: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Federal Reserve Bank of AtlantaInventors: Randall Lee Mueller, Thomas Edwin Schaadt, Benjamin T. Breeden, JR., V. Srinivas Nori
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Publication number: 20080006687Abstract: Validating image cash letter (“ICL”) files using appropriate validation standards for each ICL file and, where appropriate, allowing successfully validated elements of an ICL file containing one or more unsuccessfully validated elements to be processed for payment and/or presentment. A processing entity can receive an ICL file with multiple ICLs that each includes multiple bundles of electronic check items from a customer. The processing entity can validate the ICL file using multiple validation rules selected based on a file type of the ICL file, data content of the ICL file, and/or an identity of a bank associated with the ICL file. The processing entity can transmit a report of the validation results to the customer. The processing entity can select certain successfully validated elements of the ICL file for check presentment and/or payment processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2007Publication date: January 10, 2008Applicants: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of BostonInventors: Randall Mueller, Jeannine DeLano, Steven Purser, V. Nori, Thomas Schaadt, Jeffrey Schiele, Ronald Mason
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Patent number: 7283656Abstract: Assessing the quality of an electronic image comprises determining a quality rating for the electronic image, associating image quality thresholds with purposes for electronic images, selecting the purpose that corresponds to the electronic image, identifying an image quality threshold associated with the selected purpose, and determining whether the quality rating meets the image quality threshold. The electronic image is suitable for its intended purpose if its quality rating meets the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2005Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignees: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of DallasInventors: James A. Blake, Pablo Gonzalez, Randall Lee Mueller, V. Srinivas Nori, Steven Q. Purser, Thomas Edwin Schaadt
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Publication number: 20070235518Abstract: Monitoring an electronic check processing status of an image cash letter (“ICL”) and items in the ICL includes processing each ICL item by performing at least one electronic check processing event in connection with the item. For each electronic check processing event and for each item, a record comprising information related to a status of the electronic check processing event is created. Each record is associated with the corresponding item and the ICL. A status of each item can be determined based on the information stored in the records corresponding to that item. A status of the ICL can be determined based on the status of the items from the ICL.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2006Publication date: October 11, 2007Applicants: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityInventors: Randall Mueller, Thomas Schaadt, Steven Harris, Eric Lendl, V. Nori, Steven Purser
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Publication number: 20070095888Abstract: Balancing image cash letters (“ICLs”) and ICL items during electronic check processing includes determining whether each item has been presented to a receiving institution for payment. A tracking module can track an incoming ICL/item's processing status using records comprising information regarding the ICL/item's status for electronic check processing events. The tracking module can present the ICL/item's processing status in one or more reports. The tracking module can balance an ICL by comparing an incoming ICL value amount with an outgoing ICL value amount. The incoming ICL value amount comprises the total value of the items in the incoming ICL. The outgoing ICL value amount comprises the total value of the items in the incoming ICL that have been presented to a receiving institution via one or more outgoing ICLs. If the amounts match, then the incoming ICL is balanced. If not, then the ICL is not balanced.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2006Publication date: May 3, 2007Applicants: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityInventors: Randall Mueller, Thomas Schaadt, Steven Harris, Eric Lendl, V. Nori, Steven Purser
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Publication number: 20060237526Abstract: Accommodating the data needed to process checks for payment under the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act by using expanded fields of a financial data file. The financial data file can comprise the complete, original MICR data from an original or substitute paper check. The financial data file can comprise truncated data in conventional fields F1-F7 and untruncated data in expanded fields F10-F11. The financial data file further can comprise a result from an image quality analysis performed on an electronic image of the check. The untruncated MICR data and the electronic check image can be used to correct errors in the financial data file and to present the check for payment via a substitute check or an electronic image cash letter. The truncated MICR data can be used to electronically process the check via conventional means.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2006Publication date: October 26, 2006Applicants: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityInventors: Randall Mueller, Thomas Schaadt, V. Nori, Steven Purser, Pablo Gonzalez, Bruce Herring, James Blake
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Publication number: 20060191998Abstract: Producing print streams for efficiently generating properly formatted and ordered paper cash letters comprises print stream file that includes electronic form definitions for each cash letter document. The cash letter documents can include a cover page, one or more bundles of substitute checks, a bundle summary for each substitute check bundle, and/or a cash letter bundle summary. Information from an electronic image cash letter file can be input in data fields of the electronic form definitions. Printing the information in the print stream file results in a properly formatted and ordered paper cash letter including substitute checks and audit data. Each substitute check can include all of the MICR data provided on a corresponding, original paper check. The audit data includes the cover page, bundle summary(ies), and/or cash letter bundle summary, which can each detail the documents printed concurrently therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2006Publication date: August 31, 2006Applicants: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityInventors: Randall Mueller, Thomas Schaadt, V. Nori, Steven Purser, Diane Baggett