Abstract: Methods and switches are provided for communicating electronic messages between financial institutions. One example method includes receiving, at a first switch of a plurality of switches, an electronic message for a transaction, where the electronic message includes a unique identifier for the transaction, and identifying, by the first switch, one of the plurality of switches to process the electronic message based on the unique identifier. The method also includes, in response to the first switch being the identified one of the plurality of switches, processing, by the first switch, the electronic message and, in response to a second switch of the plurality of switches being the identified one of the plurality of switches, forwarding, by the first switch, the electronic message to the second switch for processing.

Abstract: A gateway is provided for controlling transfer of electronic messages between a financial institution and a transaction processing system comprising a plurality of switches. The gateway includes communication circuitry operable to receive an electronic message issued by the financial institution and processing circuitry operable to determine whether the electronic message includes enough information for a switch of the transaction processing system to process the electronic message. In response to the electronic message including enough information, the communication circuitry is further operable to transmit the electronic message over a data communications network for storage in a message queue unit associated with the transaction processing system for subsequent processing by the switch. In response to the electronic message not including enough information, the communication circuitry is operable to return the electronic message to the financial institution.

Abstract: Methods and switches are provided for communicating electronic messages between financial institutions. One example method includes receiving, at a first switch of a plurality of switches, an electronic message for a transaction, where the electronic message includes a unique identifier for the transaction, and identifying, by the first switch, one of the plurality of switches to process the electronic message based on the unique identifier. The method also includes, in response to the first switch being the identified one of the plurality of switches, processing, by the first switch, the electronic message and, in response to a second switch of the plurality of switches being the identified one of the plurality of switches, forwarding, by the first switch, the electronic message to the second switch for processing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for processing electronic transaction request messages from financial institutions, each transaction request message instructing payment of funds from one financial account in a first financial institution to another financial account in a second financial institution, the device comprising: a plurality of switches located at a location, each switch being operable to receive a transaction request message from a financial institution; and a clustered database connected to the plurality of switches, the clustered database comprising a plurality of synchronised databases, wherein the clustered database is con figured to generate a transaction summary record on the basis of the received transaction request message that allows settlement of the funds between the financial accounts defined by the received transaction request message.

Abstract: A gateway is provided for controlling transfer of electronic messages between a financial institution and a transaction processing system comprising a plurality of switches. The gateway includes communication circuitry operable to receive an electronic message issued by the financial institution and processing circuitry operable to determine whether the electronic message includes enough information for a switch of the transaction processing system to process the electronic message. In response to the electronic message including enough information, the communication circuitry is further operable to transmit the electronic message over a data communications network for storage in a message queue unit associated with the transaction processing system for subsequent processing by the switch. In response to the electronic message not including enough information, the communication circuitry is operable to return the electronic message to the financial institution.

Abstract: An interface is provided for controlling transfer of electronic transaction messages between a financial institution and switches distributed amongst a plurality of switch sites. The financial institution and the switches are connected via a data communications network. Communication circuitry is operable to transmit a test message to one of the switch sites over the data network if no transaction message is 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. If the echo is received within a defined time, processing circuitry is operable to then set the operational status of the switch site as operational, and if the echo is not received within the defined time, the operational status of the switch site is set as not operational.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for receiving electronic messages from a financial institution, the system comprising a plurality of switches configured to communicate with one another and to process the received electronic messages, wherein each switch includes processing circuitry that is configured to receive an electronic message that includes a unique identifier and, in dependence upon the unique identifier, either process the electronic message or forward the electronic message to another one of the switches for processing.

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: An interface is provided for controlling transfer of electronic transaction messages between a financial institution and switches distributed amongst a plurality of switch sites. The financial institution and the switches are connected via a data communications network. Communication circuitry is operable to transmit a test message to one of the switch sites over the data network if no transaction message is 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. If the echo is received within a defined time, processing circuitry is operable to then set the operational status of the switch site as operational, and if the echo is not received within the defined time, the operational status of the switch site is set as not operational.

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: The present invention provides a device for processing electronic transaction request messages from financial institutions, each transaction request message instructing payment of funds from one financial account in a first financial institution to another financial account in a second financial institution, the device comprising: a plurality of switches located at a location, each switch being operable to receive a transaction request message from a financial institution; and a clustered database connected to the plurality of switches, the clustered database comprising a plurality of synchronised databases, wherein the clustered database is con figured to generate a transaction summary record on the basis of the received transaction request message that allows settlement of the funds between the financial accounts defined by the received transaction request message.

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: The present invention provides a system for receiving electronic messages from a financial institution, the system comprising a plurality of switches configured to communicate with one another and to process the received electronic messages, wherein each switch includes processing circuitry that is configured to receive an electronic message that includes a unique identifier and, in dependence upon the unique identifier, either process the electronic message or forward the electronic message to another one of the switches for processing.

Abstract: The present invention provides an interface for controlling the transfer of electronic messages between a financial institution and a transaction processing system for processing the messages, wherein the financial institution is connected to the transaction processing system via a data communications network, the interface comprising communication circuitry operable to receive an electronic message issued by the financial institution; and processing circuitry operable to determine whether the format of the electronic message conforms to a predetermined standard necessary for processing of the electronic message; and in the event that the format of the electronic message does conform to the predetermined standard, the communication circuitry is further operable to transmit the electronic message over the network for storage in a message queue unit associated with the transaction processing system; and in the event that the format of the electronic message does not conform to the predetermined standard, the co

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

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