Abstract: A method of processing a payment instruction including: receiving a payment instruction from a user, the payment instruction including payment details and an electronic signature, the electronic signature being destroyed if the content of payment instruction is altered; checking presence of the electronic signature and confirming integrity of the payment instruction when the electronic signature is present; wherein in event the integrity of the payment instruction is confirmed, the method: i) stores the payment instruction in a first storage unit using a relational database management system (RDBMS); ii) replicates the payment instruction and stores the replicated payment instruction in a second storage unit using the RDBMS; and iii) transmits an acknowledgement signal to the user once the payment instruction has been successfully stored in the first storage unit and the replicated payment instruction has been successfully stored in the second storage unit.

Abstract: A method of tracing messages through a network of nodes is provided, the method comprising receiving message information corresponding to a first outbound message, the message information comprising a first source identifier and a first destination identifier and determining whether the first source identifier is associated with a set of messages in a storage unit, whereby when the first source identifier is associated with a set of messages, the method comprises producing a trace request, the trace request comprising the first destination identifier and an identifier identifying the set of messages associated with the first source identifier.

Abstract: A method of building a set of traceable messages through a network of nodes is provided, the method comprising receiving message information corresponding to a first message, the message information comprising a first source identifier and a first destination identifier and determining whether the source identifier is associated with a set of previous messages, whereby when the first source identifier is associated with a set of previous messages, the method comprises identifying the first message as also belonging to the set of previous messages and when the first source identifier is not associated with a set of previous messages, the method comprises identifying the first message as belonging to a new set of messages, the method further comprising associating the first destination identifier with the set of messages to which the first message belongs, such that if a second message is sent from that destination, the second message will be identified as belonging to that set of messages.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying an end node bank account in a network of bank accounts for funds from a fraudulent transaction, comprising processing circuitry configured to: identify a node account into which funds from the fraudulent transaction are paid; determine the number of account relationships associated with the node account; and identify the node account as an end node bank account when the number of account relationships is above a threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for receiving transaction requests from a financial institution, the system comprising i) a plurality of servers connected over a network, wherein each server comprises a storage unit configured to store a settlement risk position which is the sum of the value of previously processed transaction requests over a period of time, a debit cap value associated with the financial institution, an adjustment value and a new transaction request having a transaction value, wherein the debit cap value stored in each server is determined in accordance with the total debit cap attributed to the financial institution and the number of servers in the system; ii) communication circuitry configured to receive the adjustment value over the network, the adjustment value being determined as the average, value of the settlement risk position across the plurality of servers; and iii) control circuitry configured to determine whether the debit cap has been exceeded by comparing tire debit cap

Abstract: The present invention provides an interface for controlling the transfer of electronic transaction messages between a first financial institution and a plurality of switches distributed amongst a plurality of switch sites, wherein the first financial institution and the plurality of switches are connected via a data communications network, the interface comprising communication circuitry, processing circuitry and memory storing the operational status of each switch site, wherein the communication circuitry is operable to transmit a test message to one of the switch sites over the data network if no transaction message has been received from that switch site for a predetermined time, and in response to the test message, the communication circuitry is operable to receive an echo of the test message from the switch site; wherein the processing circuitry is operable such that if the echo is received within a defined time then the operational status of the switch site is set as operational and if the echo is not r

Abstract: A method of processing a payment instruction including: receiving a payment instruction from a user, the payment instruction including payment details and an electronic signature, the electronic signature being destroyed if the content of payment instruction is altered; checking presence of the electronic signature and confirming integrity of the payment instruction when the electronic signature is present; wherein in event the integrity of the payment instruction is confirmed, the method: i) stores the payment instruction in a first storage unit using a relational database management system (RDBMS); ii) replicates the payment instruction and stores the replicated payment instruction in a second storage unit using the RDBMS; and iii) transmits an acknowledgement signal to the user once the payment instruction has been successfully stored in the first storage unit and the replicated payment instruction has been successfully stored in the second storage unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for receiving transaction requests from a financial institution, the system comprising i) a plurality of servers connected over a network, wherein each server comprises a storage unit configured to store a settlement risk position which is the sum of the value of previously processed transaction requests over a period of time, a debit cap value associated with the financial institution, an adjustment value and a new transaction request having a transaction value, wherein the debit cap value stored in each server is determined in accordance with the total debit cap attributed to the financial institution and the number of servers in the system; ii) communication circuitry configured to receive the adjustment value over the network, the adjustment value being determined as the average value of the settlement risk position across the plurality of servers; and iii) control circuitry configured to determine whether the debit cap has been exceeded by comparing the debit cap v