Patents by Inventor Stephen Ledford

Stephen Ledford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9799011
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: THE CLEARING HOUSE PAYMENTS COMPANY L.L.C.
    Inventors: John P. Dunn, Stephen Ledford, Steve H. Jackson, Albert G. Wood
  • Publication number: 20170221066
    Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program for conducting a real-time payment settlement transaction. The method includes determining a prefunded requirement for one or more financial institutions. A prefunded balance is stored, based on a prefunded payment received in a separate funding account, for each of the one or more financial institutions. The method further includes receiving an electronic request for payment message from at least one creditor financial institution, and forwarding the electronic request for payment message to at least one debtor financial institution, the electronic request for payment message requesting that a payment be made to the at least one creditor financial institution and comparing the amount of payment requested in an electronic payment transaction to the prefunded balance of the at least one debtor financial institution. A real-time financial settlement transaction is performed based on a result of the comparing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen Ledford, Irfan Ahmad
  • Publication number: 20170004501
    Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program for conducting a real-time payment transaction. The method includes receiving a request for payment from a creditor financial institution (FI), and forwarding it to a debtor (FI). A payment transaction message is received from the debtor financial institution, specifying an amount of payment requested in the request, and is forwarded to the creditor FI such that the amount of payment is credited to an account in real-time. The debtor FI can request a return of the payment, in which case the creditor FI can comply therewith or refuse the return the payment. Also, an unsettled financial position of the debtor FI can be settled where that position does not exceed a combination of a pre-funded balance in a settlement account and a net debit cap value, and multiple settlements can be performed depending on a relationship between the position and combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen Ledford, Irfan Ahmad
  • Patent number: 9448276
    Abstract: A method of testing a device. The method comprises determining a computational window. The computational window is a time period of device testing activity below an activity threshold. The at least one computational window occurs during the device testing activity. The method further comprises creating and executing a decision tree during the computational window. The decision tree comprises a scheduled test analysis of test results and a selection of test control actions scheduled to execute in response to the test analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry Arnold, Brian Buras, Pierre Gauthier, James Stephen Ledford
  • Patent number: 9322874
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing a device. The apparatus comprises a test control module and a test analysis module. The test control module is operable to generate and transmit first prober and handler (PH) requests to a supervisor module. The supervisor module is operable to transmit first PH commands to a prober and handler for execution thereof. The test analysis module is operable to generate and transmit second PH requests to the supervisor module. The supervisor module is further operable to transmit second PH commands to the prober and handler for execution thereof. The execution of the second PH commands are performed transparently to the test control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry Arnold, Pierre Gauthier, Brian Buras, James Stephen Ledford
  • Publication number: 20140214682
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: THE CLEARING HOUSE PAYMENTS COMPANY L.L.C.
    Inventors: John P. Dunn, Stephen Ledford, Steve H. Jackson, Albert G. Wood
  • Patent number: 8725607
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: The Clearing House Payments Company LLC
    Inventors: John P. Dunn, Stephen Ledford, Steve H. Jackson, Albert G. Wood
  • Publication number: 20130275073
    Abstract: A method of testing a device. The method comprises determining a computational window. The computational window is a time period of device testing activity below an activity threshold. The at least one computational window occurs during the device testing activity. The method further comprises creating and executing a decision tree during the computational window. The decision tree comprises a scheduled test analysis of test results and a selection of test control actions scheduled to execute in response to the test analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Henry Arnold, Brian Buras, Pierre Gauthier, James Stephen Ledford
  • Publication number: 20130275357
    Abstract: A method for analyzing test results. The method comprises selecting selected control rules for verification from a plurality of stored, accessing selected test results, performing selected statistical analyses of the selected test results, and executing at least one action of a plurality of selected actions, wherein the plurality of selected actions is selected by a result of the selected statistical analyses. The plurality of selected control rules are arranged in a decision tree. The decision tree comprises a schedule for verification of the selected control rules. A selection of the test results is defined by the plurality of selected control rules. A selection of statistical analyses is defined by the plurality of selected control rules and the decision tree. There is at least one action selected by the decision tree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Henry Arnold, Pierre Gauthier, Brian Buras, James Stephen Ledford
  • Publication number: 20130275072
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing a device. The apparatus comprises a test control module and a test analysis module. The test control module is operable to generate and transmit first prober and handler (PH) requests to a supervisor module. The supervisor module is operable to transmit first PH commands to a prober and handler for execution thereof. The test analysis module is operable to generate and transmit second PH requests to the supervisor module. The supervisor module is further operable to transmit second PH commands to the prober and handler for execution thereof. The execution of the second PH commands are performed transparently to the test control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Henry Arnold, Pierre Gauthier, Brian Buras, James Stephen Ledford
  • Publication number: 20050171899
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: John Dunn, Stephen Ledford, Steve Jackson, Albert Wood